Michigan State Police Tests 2000 Patrol Vehicles

• NCJ Number: 206448
• Author(s): Betsy DeFeyter
• Date Published: October 1999
• Length: 89 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1996-MU-MU-K011
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Test/Measurement; Report (Technical)

Annotation

This report presents the results of the 2000 model year police vehicle evaluation by the Michigan State Police Vehicle Test Team, which evaluated 10 vehicles manufactured by Ford (Police Interceptor, Explorer, and Expedition); Chevrolet (Camaro automatic and 6-speed manual and the Impala); Volvo (70T5 Sedan and 70T5 Wagon); and Daimler Chrysler (Jeep Cherokee 2-wheel and 4-wheel drives).

Abstract

The report first describes the test equipment and then the test vehicles. The testing itself involved four areas of performance: vehicle dynamics; acceleration, top speed, and braking; ergonomics and communications; and fuel economy. Vehicle dynamics testing determined each vehicle's high speed pursuit or emergency handling characteristics and performance compared with the other vehicles in the test group. Testing for acceleration and top speed determined the ability of each vehicle to accelerate from a standing start to 60 mph, 80 mph, and 100 mph, as well as the distance to reach 110 mph and 120 mph. The braking test determined the deceleration rate of each vehicle on 12 60-to-0 mph impending skid (threshold) stops. Ergonomics and communications testing rated each vehicle's ability to provide a suitable environment for the patrol officer in the performance of his/her assigned tasks, as well as the vehicle's capacity to accommodate the required communications and emergency warning equipment, along with the relative difficulty of such installations. Testing for fuel economy determined the fuel economy potential of all the vehicles. For each type of test, this report presents the test objective and methodology, a test facility diagram (if applicable), test data, and a test data comparison chart for the vehicles tested. Appended performance comparisons for 1999 and 2000 test vehicles and data on the performance of "special service package" vehicles