Secure transportation & Security Drivers in Washington DC, USA

Secure travel for VIPs across Washington DC and the rest of the USA

Washington DC, sometimes called Washington or simply DC, is the capital of the United States (DC is short for District of Columbia). It’s an important political capital, as it’s the seat of the US federal government and home of the White House, Supreme Court and many other federal departments and agencies.

It also hosts the headquarters of the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. K Street is the industry centre, while there are 177 foreign embassies located on a section of Massachusetts Avenue. The city is also a prominent media centre, including the Washington Post founded in 1877.

This concentration of important destinations is just one reason why it’s so important for VIPs to travel around the city using secure transport.

Security drivers in Washington DC

When you book a security driver through us, we use affiliates who are licensed and insured to work in the USA, and are carefully vetted to ensure they know the local area.

Washington DC is divided into four quadrants centred around the Capitol building. The city has been laid out with 2400km (1500 miles) of broad streets and avenues set out in a grid pattern that radiates out from rectangles, and incorporates open space and landscaping.

By law, the skyline is low and sprawling. This might be one reason why the suburban area can have traffic problems. In a 2010 study, Washington-area commuters spent 70 hours a year in traffic delays – tying with Chicago as the country’s worst road congestion. But don’t worry – our drivers are trained to get their passengers out of traffic (and other trouble on the road).

Security vehicles in Washington DC

Your executives and their entourage will be transported in discreet luxury vehicles that blend in as required and are adapted for security use.

If armoured vehicles and/or armed drivers are considered to be necessary due to the threat level, we can provide those in Washington DC.

We can also arrange private aviation via jet or helicopter.

Overview of Washington DC

Washington DC was founded in 1791, and named after George Washington, the first President of the United States.

The resident population is around 690,000, but this rises to over 1 million with commuters travelling in from Maryland and Virginia suburbs during the working week. The total metropolitan area reaches 6.3 million.

The city has a total area of 177km2 of which around 19% is parkland and almost 11% is water. The lowest point is the Potomac River at sea level, and the highest point is Fort Reno Park at 125m (409 ft) above sea level.

The climate is humid subtropical – that means it’s hot and humid in summer with occasional thunderstorms and even tornadoes or weak hurricanes, with winters that range from cool to cold and may include snow. The city is affected by blizzards once every five years or so.

Notable sites in Washington DC include the Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, as well as the Smithsonian Institution – the world’s largest research and museum complex.

Security risks in Washington DC

The living standard in Washington DC is high compared with many American cities, but there is a relatively high rate of homelessness and it’s been reported that about 10% of the population are ex-convicts.

There is a law to ensure homeless people are housed in shelter units or hotels when the temperature drops below freezing.

There is a ban on assault weapons, and laws require all firearms to be registered.

Violent crime

In the early 1990s, the city was described as the “murder capital of the US” but homicide rates have declined since the crack cocaine epidemic ended and economic revitalisation projects began.

Non-violent crime

In 2006, there was a spate of robberies in the city’s more affluent northwestern neighbourhoods, and property crime remains a major problem.

Terrorism

As a political centre, there have been various incidents of political violence in Washington DC and the greater metropolitan area. Most notably, on 11 September 2001, Al-Quaeda hijackers flew one plane into the Pentagon resulting in the deaths of all on board as well as 115 employees and 10 contractors in the building, while another plane that was headed for the US Capitol crashed in a Pennsylvania field.

Riots

Riots are not unheard of. Following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr in 1968, there was a four-day period of violent civil unrest and rioting in Washington DC and other US cities. More recently, a mob of Trump supporters attacked the US Capitol building on 6 January 2021.

Events

Washington DC hosts a wide range of annual events, including the National Cherry Blossom Festival, National Book Festival, DC Jazz Festival, Washington Auto Show, Memorial Day and Fourth of July celebrations.

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