Early in my training career, I learned that timing is everything. By timing, I mean whether conducting Security Driver or EP training, understanding the concept of time and distance is crucial to effectively mitigating an attack on the principal (AOP). 

Understanding the basic principles of managing time and distance is lifesaving knowledge.

An attack on the principal is a time, distance relationship. 

Moving the principal, driving or walking, is managing time and distance. If there is an attack on the principal, driving or walking, any delay in the decision-making process will equate to less time and distance. No matter what skill level the practitioners possess, if there is not enough time and distance to use the skill, bad things will happen. 

Understanding the Concept of Time and Distance

While driving the principal, our frame of reference for measuring time and distance is attached to a speedometer, which supplies information in Miles and Hours (MPH) or Kilometers and Hours (KPH) units. Whether driving or walking, you do not have an hour or a Mile/Kilometer to make decisions; in a vehicle emergency (accident or ambush), Miles/Kilometers Per Hour is an irrelevant unit measurement.

As mentioned above, any delay in the decision-making process adds exponentially to the level of difficulty needed to survive an accident or a vehicle attack. In a vehicle, delays are not measured in seconds but in tenths of seconds. For example, at 40 MPH (58.8 Feet Per Second) or 64.4 KPH (18 Meters Per Second), in .2 seconds, the driver travels 11.76 Feet or 3.6 Meters; at 60 MPH (88.2 Feet Per Second) or 96 KPH (26.7 Meters Per Second), in .2 seconds, the driver would travel 17.6 feet or 5.4 Meters.

Why use two-tenths of a second as a reference point? Because that is how much time it takes to blink your eyes.

When you are driving 60 MPH or 96KPH, literally in a blink of an eye, you are 17.6 feet or 5.4 Meters closer to the problem; in half a second, you would be 44 feet or 13.4 Meters closer, and in a second, 88 Feet or 26.7 Meters closer to the problem.

Any training that can speed up the decision-making process – by as little as a blink of an eye dramatically increase the chances of surviving the emergency. 

Walking With the Principal

Unlike moving the principal in a vehicle, when walking, the speed is low, and time is measured in seconds. 

Consider that the “average” leisure walking speed is 3.1 MPH or 5 KPH, and walking faster would increase the speed to 5.6 MPH or 9 KPH. Just as in a vehicle, if an AOP occurs while walking with the principal, you won’t have a Mile or a Kilometer to mitigate risk, and you will not have an hour; your workspace will be measured in feet or meters and seconds.

A delay in the perception of the problem of one second would mean the threat is 4.6 feet (1.4 Meters) closer to the principal. In two seconds, the danger is approximately 9 feet (2.8 Meters) closer.

Whatever the attack scenario, moving in a vehicle or walking, there is a time and a distance that will mitigate the problem.

Time – Distance and Training

Measuring student performance regarding time and distance during training exercises is crucial for ensuring they are adequately prepared to handle potential threats. It is essential to avoid creating a false sense of security by allowing excessive time to solve problems that must be mitigated quickly. 

For example, suppose a training provider allows 5 seconds to solve a problem that needs to be mitigated in 2 seconds. In that case, they create a false sense of security that can be exploited by those who wish to do you and your principal harm. 

To accurately measure student performance, it is essential to use measurement units relevant to the scenario, such as feet or meters per second. This approach allows for precise performance tracking and can help identify areas for improvement.

Speed measuring devices are highly recommended, as they allow for more accurate measurement of time, distance, and lateral forces. With the wide range of devices available, from onboard computers to smartphone apps, there is no reason not to incorporate these tools into training exercises.

Overall, incorporating the concept of time and distance into training exercises, and using appropriate units of measurement and speed-measuring devices, can significantly enhance the effectiveness of training programs for protecting principals in various scenarios.

The Index

Time and distance are essential to computing Decision Sight Distance (DSD). Decision Sight Distance is the distance needed for a driver to detect unanticipated changes - recognize the risk created by those changes, and identify the appropriate path and speed needed to initiate and complete the evasive maneuver. It is a significant factor in determining if the event you drive into is winnable.

This is a video of our latest podcast concerning Decision Sight Distance

Episode 178 – The Science of the Lane Change

In the Blink Of An Eye – The Imperial System

In the Blink Of An Eye – The Metric System

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