I would always at least consider a passenger-side approach on car stops — I’ve come to utilize this tactic almost 100 percent of the time. There are many sound “tactical” reasons for this:
1.) You won’t have your back to traffic not only placing you in obvious danger, but causing your attention to be somewhat split at times. Traffic is a far greater threat than the operator is 99.9 percent of the time.
2.) This approach also makes it difficult for an operator to engage you quickly with a firearm without turning his/her body first in a particularly overt manner, especially for a right handed shooter.
3.) There is more distance between you and your potential attacker, not to mention an automobile. This makes for a nice buffer, creating not only a reactionary gap, but potential cover as well.
4.) This approach surprises many operators, as they are expecting you to approach from the driver’s side because this has been the SOP for so many for so long.
5.) The passenger side approach allows you to scan the entire interior of the vehicle before the operator even knows you are there in many cases. You will usually have to knock on the passenger window, often startling the operator. Better them than you.
6.) Once you are situated off the passenger window you have a decent view of all occupants, as opposed to your side being exposed to rear seat passengers when you make initial contact with the operator.
I feel that failure to utilize this option most of the time is a mistake, and an easy fix. A note to trainers: try running force on force scenarios using both approaches, especially in a single operator situation. This demonstrates the above points better than reading about them can!