A recent motoring attempt in Jacksonville, Florida, shows that the rapid acceleration of electric vehicles is not just a fun feature. It can also save your life.
If you care about the safety of yourself and your family, do yourself a favor and order a Tesla. https://t.co/r4obyoREMk pic.twitter.com/jQW4zzwvUW
– Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) 11 March 2021
Draper Younce, a Navy officer in Jacksonville, got a nasty surprise in a parking lot. A man runs from the side of an apartment building and points a gun at him while sitting in his Tesla Model 3 on his phone and talking.
“The first thing I said was, ‘No, man, I’m not getting out of the car,'” Younce said. FOX Business. “And the second thing I said …” it’s a Tesla, you can not steal a Tesla. ”
What the motorist did not know is that the whole thing was captured on the vehicle’s 8 cameras. Although the cameras were originally added to Tesla vehicles for ultimate self-driving, they also serve as dashcams and security cameras. With two cameras per side, as well as front and rear cameras, the car can record everything that happens around it, including the actions of criminals.
Younce told media channels (including Action News Jax(who made the video above) that he was waiting for the right moment to escape and the unique features of the car gave him the chance to do so. The robber tried to pull the car’s flush door handle, and the brief moment of confusion that distracted him was just a moment’s attention. That’s when Younce nailed the skinny pedal. The vehicle’s “hold” function meant that it did not even appear in “D.” had to post. He can go.
The robber did manage to take one shot and hit the Model 3’s B-pillar. The shot just missed nail-biting for Younce himself. At that point, the recording of the vehicle’s rear camera shows the driver fleeing the scene. Younce had his Model 3 set up to store a recording when he honked the horn, and he did so as soon as he was safe.
Younce offers a cash reward and hopes someone can identify the robber by sharing his footage. More information is available at his Twitter feed.
If everyone here who watches the video and likes it would donate $ 1-5, I could make an impact on the environment and give an award to the person who is arresting this man and off the street. #donate #tesla #Jacksonville # GoFundMe https://t.co/jJsM7VxD7I
– Draper Younce (@DraperYounce) 11 March 2021
Things we can learn from this
To begin with, it is clear that accelerating a Tesla is more than just fun. In the past, Teslas on a video escaped from wrecks and barely escaped where a car would be powered by a gas. In this case, the quick acceleration and hold function worked together to make the driver of the attacker blow away. In the hands of an irresponsible driver, that power can hurt people, but in the hands of a good person, it can prevent disasters.
We do not know exactly which version of the car Younce had, but a “double car” emblem does appear in the video from the Florida news station. Undoubtedly, that extra ‘oomph’ helped get the car out of the line of fire just a little faster, and it probably made the difference between life and death.
The flush door handles obviously do more than just cool. If it’s harder for a criminal to grab the door, it’s harder for them to gain unauthorized access. It also gave the man a chance to get away.
Another great thing is that the car has the dashcam mode for the cameras. Although things like dashcam mode and sentry mode seemed like silly features when they first came out, they have been doing very well ever since. Many vandals, thieves and campaigners were brought to justice after the cameras caught them doing bad things.
It would certainly be better for people not to attack a Tesla driver or their car, but hopefully if more people get an idea and realize that Tesla’s safety collisions are rolling, they will think twice before doing so. The cameras alone can eventually lead to drivers becoming much safer than in other cars.
I’m going to switch from EV Writer Mode to Self Defense Instructor Mode here.
First, situational awareness is key. The sooner you see someone advancing with a gun on you, the sooner you can act. In this case, seeing the man in the mirror could approach, could have resulted in the owner starting out sooner and harder to hit. By not seeing the motorist before he was already in his face, the owner could only avoid being hit. The situation could have been much worse if the shot had gone just a few inches to the right.
I know it’s really hard to do in daily life, but even a split second of benefit can make a big difference.
Second, think of ‘tactical parking’. If you’re the kind of person who’s going to sit with your clipper and wait several minutes while someone downloads their groceries just to get a few spaces closer to the store, you need to get out of the habit. The way almost everyone else mocks you for behaving like that should be enough, but it also puts you in a position where you do not really choose your parking space. Being further outside the premises where thieves have fewer shelters is great. Having your car in a position where you can drive fast like Younce is even better.
Most important thing here: do not pack yourself, even if you have to return to a space. It is worth the effort.
In a similar piece over at The truth about guns, I go much deeper into the self-defense side of things. If you like that kind of thing, you should visit the story out there.
Buying an electric car that can jump out of danger also does no harm. Hopefully, since more vehicles not only go electric, but also have cameras that make every move of a hairdresser, they will think twice before trying it. The best potential attack out there is the one you never know. Criminals are always looking for easy money and are not looking for a fight or a chance to go to jail. Buying a Tesla can literally save your life without you ever knowing it will happen.
Featured image: Video of the incident by Draper Younce
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