Probable threat scenarios during travel and how to secure oneself (movement and car)

Travel: Safety at Security Checkpoints

Stay vigilant at the security checkpoints. Who are manning them?
Did they just come up or have they always been at the same location.
Are they checkpoints or roadblocks?
Didn’t know about the checkpoints? : Ask around how many there
are along the route.
Once there, assess: How might they look, who have raised them
(law enforcing agencies or possible ambush), what might be checked,
why are they there, who are the people manning them, what might they want.