Tuesday September 1, 2009, 1:17 pm
By Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press


KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - One of the most intimidating sights on the highways and byways of Afghanistan has been the military convoy - a heavily armed and armoured line of war machines that transport NATO soldiers and supplies to remote outposts.


These behemoths often travel at high speed and usually down the centre of the road. Pedestrians, motorcycles, cars and trucks are forced to do the equivalent of diving for cover into the ditch. As a matter of fact, anyone who is seen to be a potential threat has occasionally had a warning shot or two fired over their heads.


But that is about to change.


In order to attain the goal of "winning the hearts and minds of Afghans," Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, is now requiring all personnel to adhere to appropriate legal driving procedures and behaviour in Afghanistan.


"The manner in which ISAF forces interact with and treat the Afghan people directly correlates to our ability to earn their trust and support," McChrystal said. "ISAF forces are highly conspicuous when travelling in vehicles and I expect ISAF members to drive in ways that respect the safety and well-being of the Afghan people."


The Theatre Driving Principles direct ISAF personnel to adhere to safe-driving practices, such as respecting Afghan traffic rules and regulations, driving at an appropriate speed and driving defensively.


Similar traffic rules were put in place for Canadian soldiers in Kandahar in April by the commander of Task Force Kandahar, Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance.


"Why? He felt corrective measures needed to be applied - that there was no reason to drive aggressively all the time and that we needed to be reassuring to the Afghan population and show them we were a respectful military operation," explained Maj. Mario Couture, senior public affairs officer for Task Force Kandahar.


"Just to be clear so that everybody would abide by the same rule, he made it a directive so there was no mistake and it was clear what he was expecting from people driving on the roads with Canadian Forces military vehicles."


But directing a convoy of military vehicles through busy streets congested with traffic, donkey carts, bicycles and cars and potential assailants isn't easy at the best of times. With NATO soldiers dying as a result of vehicle-borne and roadside improvised explosive devices, the change isn't without its challenges.


"It is very difficult. It's a challenge for everybody especially in the context that there has been so many suicide-borne vehicle IEDs," acknowledged Couture.


"It's a threat but you can't allow yourself to treat everybody as a potential enemy so you have to learn, you have to behave, you have to discriminate," he said.


"It was important to adjust our driving behaviour to reflect a kinder approach to local Afghans in general."


A total of 127 Canadian soldiers have died in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002. Most of the deaths were the result of IEDs.


Canada has about 2,700 troops serving as part of the NATO mission; most of them in Kandahar province.