More routinely, the Pakistani police use shipping containers to try to keep suicide bombers at bay or block off buildings and control traffic during tense times.
Traffic jams are tense, but fine cars running at high speeds can be both tense and exciting.
Before the gunfire, the mood at the protest became more tense, as protesters blocked off traffic on West Florissant Avenue.
Because this part of the city is poorly served by the Underground, many locals choose to bike, though even seasoned riders seemed tense when navigating the screaming traffic on Bethnal Green Road, one of East London's main thoroughfares.
The only thing that I ask of you is where did it start?" Tensing replies: "I initiated the traffic stop at Vine and Thill".
From the outset, the prosecutor was vehemently critical of Tensing's actions during the traffic stop, declaring at the time he was initially charged that he "should have never been an officer".
Peshmerga forces, fearing car bombs and hidden insurgents, meticulously combed through the traffic, and set up tense checkpoints, causing further chaos.
But the car began rolling backwards ever so slowly while we were stopped on an incline in traffic, leading to the only slightly tense moment of the drive, as we did get close to the car behind.
Watching him descend, and the road above be re-sealed with bitumen, ready for the flow of traffic to resume, the feeling was tense and surreal.
The pilgrim traffic dries up and Ayodhya slips back into its tense, troubled state.
