Executive Protection And Secure Transportation Podcast

In this week’s episode of the EPST podcast, we discuss certification in Executive Protection. The podcast is provided by the International Security Driver Association. Every week we share secure transportation and executive protection headlines, news, trends, and educational content for today’s practitioners.  Two topics of discussion that can dominate social media are certification and the state of training in the executive protection and secure transportation industry. In reality, certification and training are inseparable. There is a need for standardization in the EP profession.

This episode is part two on the vehicle attacks that have changed how Executive Protection and Secure Transportation practitioners work and train.  In episode 189, we covered Hans Martin Schleyer and Aldo Moro. In this week’s episode, we discuss John Butler and Alfred Herrhausen. 

In this week's episode, we share an update on Mohsen Fakhrizadeh's assassination. Also, there is a significant rental car shortage in high-demand areas which may impact secure transportation providers. We shared GM's news on winning a contract to develop and build purpose-built vehicles. Lastly, we shared the importance of headlights while driving in low light conditions.

In this week’s show, we share information on electric vehicle basics and another report on the armored vehicle market and why it is important. We also share lesser-known incidents and four new books authored by ISDA members.

Theft of Catalytic Converters Your vehicle has a precious metal container infused with a precious metal that is selling for about $28,000 per ounce right now; that’s 15-times the price of gold. The metal is Rhodium, and the container is your Catalytic converter. The National Insurance Crime Bureau recorded 2347 thefts of the emissions-cleaning devices in December 2020, up from 578 a year earlier. Thieves are after the precious metals in the Catalytic converter that change highly toxic pollutants in the exhaust into less harmful gases. The price of one of those metals, Rhodium, spiked as high as $30,000 per troy ounce (slightly heavier than a standard ounce) last year due to an existing shortage exacerbated by the pandemic. A single cat contains about $400 worth of Rhodium. Executive Vehicle and Low Profile Tires Many of the newer Executive Vehicles, including SUVs, come with Low Profile tires. There are advantages and disadvantages to low-profile tires. Low-profile tires are all about the tire’s Aspect Ratio

Preliminary numbers for the 2021 Executive Vehicle & Secure Transportation Survey A little background if you are not familiar with the survey. The Survey is conducted every two years since 2013. Over the last eight years, the survey has covered various aspects of secure transportation. The goal of the survey is to examine trends and collect data to develop a broader perspective on the secure transportation profession. The 2021 survey is unique because it covers the span of time that the industry was dealing with the Pandemic. The final report will examine the differences in the metrics covering the eight-year time span, emphasizing the change from 2019 to 2021. Driving and Sunglasses Many security drivers drive in the sunrise and the sunset. Blinding glare from low sunlight or bright light reflecting off snow, puddles, other vehicles, or even your own hood can be potentially lethal. Glare is frequently cited as the cause of traffic accidents, but the right pair of sunglasses can prevent it. There is some

Hydroplaning In the aftermath of Henri here in New England, I thought I'd lead off with the topic of  Hydroplaning and the role tires play. Hydroplaning happens when one or more tires are lifted from the road by a wedge of water that gets trapped in front of and under a tire as the vehicle drives through the water. Hydroplaning most frequently occurs during heavy rainstorms when water creates puddles on the highway. In addition to the accompanying splash and scaring the heck out of the driver, hydroplaning typically causes the steering wheel to jerk. In addition to hydroplaning, drivers need to be extra careful during heavy rains and tropical storms, be wary of potential deep standing water and other road hazards.  Mercedes' launches Pothole Speed Bump detection in select models Pothole damage costs U.S. drivers $3 billion per year, according to a study from the AAA.  Some of the more common damage is a flat tire, bent or damaged rims, suspension damage, steering damage, and even damage to the car's body. Po

The Vehicle Ambush In Mexico In a post on LinkedIn, the author commented on a recent assassination of an individual while in a vehicle. It occurred in Mexico. The author mentions, “as noted in Gavin de Becker’s book, Just Two Seconds, 64% of attacks occur in and around the vehicle, and 77% of those succeed”. He also mentions the need for situational awareness. We’ll add the demand for Surveillance Detection and armored vehicles. A couple of thoughts come to mind. Data says 65% of attacks occur while in or near a vehicle. How much of your time do you spend on training that mitigates the massive risk of vehicle attacks? For close to 50 years, we have preached the need for surveillance detection, situation awareness, and armored vehicles. We are still talking about incidents resulting from a lack of surveillance detection, situational awareness, and armored vehicles. Armored Vehicle Market Looking at posts on LinkedIn, one could get the impression that the civilian armored car business is booming, and they would

In this episode, the topics we cover are - The Mercedes Benz 2022 S Class Armored Vehicle Using Facebook as an example, we cover the dramatic increase in the number of dollars spent on Corporate Personal Security We discuss the ASIS white paper, How to Plant Seeds to Success in the Security Industry, which we feel is a must-read Plus other topics of interest. For those that would like to go deeper into our discussion topics, there are 12 informational links in the podcast show notes.

This week’s topic is the perception of speed in motorcades and training. Quick note, in the episode I’ll be only referencing Imperial system measurements, however, please visit the show notes at securitydriver.com/181 for the metric system references. The ISDA 2019 Executive Vehicle Survey results indicated a dramatic increase in the use of SUVs for Executive Transportation. The results also showed that there had been a significant increase in the use of two car scenarios for Secure Transportation services. If you couple the Survey results data with the number of motorcade incidents that have occurred, it points to a problem in the making. The following is an explanation of why a two-car scenario can create a risk to the principal and some suggestions on how to mitigate that risk. The risk starts with what scientists call “driver’s eye height.”

In today’s podcast episode, the topic is the Indy 500 by the Numbers. This coming Sunday, May 30th, will be the 105th running of the Indy 500, so we thought we would do a simple analysis of the track and the drivers; hopefully, it will make watching the race more enjoyable. Let’s take a look at track dimensions The Indy 500 oval track is 2.5 Miles or 4 Kilometers in length. The track consists of: Two long straightaways that are each 3,300 Feet or 1006.5 Meters in length Two short straightaways that are 660 Feet or 201 Meters long Four corners that are 1320 Feet long or 399 Meters Looking at those numbers an Indy 500 driver will spend 40% of their time in a turn. Read More here https://securitydriver.com/180

In today’s podcast episode, the topic is surveillance detection. The content for this episode is taken from an article authored by Tony Scotti which appeared in the May 1992 issue of Security Management Magazine. Throughout history, terrorists have appeared invincible. They plan their operations meticulously to ensure success, and, once implemented, they seldom fail to strike and kill their targets. If their attack is against an individual, terrorists gather information and intelligence through surveillance. To select a target, terrorists begin by picking a group of individuals. The information they collect during surveillance is used to narrow the field of candidates. When a target is finally chosen, surveillance continues. The reason terrorists succeed is that they never attack unless they have a well-organized plan, and their plan is supported by information and intelligence gathered through surveillance. Because of this factor, surveillance detection is the best way to protect unsuspecting executives from

The topic for this week's episode is the science of the lane change. If you have been to an Advanced Driving, EVOC, or Protective Driver Training Program, you have driven through a Lane Change exercise. It is a staple of most all driving programs. Over the years, feedback from former students indicates that the "Lane Change" exercise is one of the most important, if not the most important exercise, in a protective driving program. The comment we hear often is that the Lane Change instills life-saving skills. The old Scotti School and now VDI call it the Lane Change exercise, but it has different names depending on the training provider. Names like - Evasive Maneuver, Accident Avoidance, or Swerve to Avoid. No matter the exercise's name, they all have the same basic characteristics that are essential to all Protective Driving training programs. The purpose of the Lane Change is to simulate an unexpected event that can occur anytime, anyplace, and with a minimum amount of time to react. As the student approache

The topic for this week’s episode is a basic outline of the effects of the Vehicle Center of Gravity, Tires, and Run Flats on an Armored Vehicle.   For links and transcript go to https://securitydriver.com/177

The topic for this week’s episode is the basics of armored vehicles and their use in protective services. Since the Omar García Harfuch Ambush, we (ISDA) have received questions concerning the use of armored vehicles in protective services. For the first part of the podcast, I’ll share some of the 2019 Executive Vehicle & Secure Transportation Survey results where it pertains to armored vehicles.   In the second half of the episode, I share Armored Vehicle Basics. This is not meant to be the definitive guide to purchasing an armored vehicle. It is more to supply basic knowledge that can assist in the decision-making process. For links and transcript go to https://securitydriver.com/176

Every week we share secure transportation and executive protection knowledge, headlines, trends, and educational content. Today we are talking about the science of braking. Although most all Security Drivers realize that the higher the car's speed, the more distance required to stop, what is surprising to many drivers is how much extra distance it takes to stop a vehicle with just a small increase in speed. The braking distance increases four times each time the traveling speed doubles. This is because the work done in bringing a car to rest means removing all of its kinetic energy. So, for a fixed maximum braking force, the braking distance is proportional to the square of the velocity. Huh? Well, I did say the topic is the science of braking. Ok, let’s put this into practical terms. Read the show notes to episode 175 here -> https://securitydriver.com/175

In this week’s episode, the topic is Payload – one of the five vehicle characteristics that affect the principal and passengers’ safety and security.    This is a scenario that all Security Driver and Secure Transportation providers are familiar with; the Principal travels to a location and is met by a Security Driver. The Principal and two other executives will be transported in an SUV. Their luggage is stored in the rear of the vehicle. Depending on the number of passengers and the weight of the luggage, we now have a scenario where the driver is driving a vehicle with different operational characteristics than the one they arrived in. What created the change is the vehicle’s payload.  Show notes: https://securitydriver.com/174

In this week’s episode, we will cover a range of tire topics. Specifically tire pressure, the tire contact patch, and armored vehicles and tires. Anyone who has been to an old Scotti School or over the last 18 years to a VDI training program, knows the importance we place on tires. The ISDA is constantly monitoring the tire industry.  We spend the time and effort researching tires because no other vehicle component is susceptible to time and the environment as the tires. As a Security Driver, tires are the decision-making component of the vehicle. A decision that adds to the safety and security of your principal. Tire Pressure Basics Maintaining correct tire pressure helps optimize tire performance and fuel economy. Proper tire inflation pressure allows Security Drivers and their passengers to experience tire (ride) comfort, durability, and performance designed to match their vehicles' needs. Every time you move the controls, you are shifting weight throughout the vehicle.  These shifts are all even

Today’s topic is Autonomous Vehicle levels and their effects to secure transportation. On various social media outlets, news reports – vehicle ads - some have touted driverless vehicles. They are going as far as to say that driverless vehicles will soon be here. Some in the security community have asked will Autonomous vehicles eliminate the security driver profession – no, not really. That is not to say that basic autonomous vehicles are here to stay. As a Security Driver or provider of Secure Transportation, your client or principal expects you to stay current and know the ever-increasing technologies available in executive vehicles. The various levels of Autonomous vehicles and their effect on the driving task are some of those pieces of knowledge you need to have. Click here for complete transcription and links - > https://securitydriver.com/172