NCJ Number
198053
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 29 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2002 Pages: 18-19,22,24-26,28,30
Date Published
November 2002
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the results of the 2003 Michigan State Police vehicle tests.
Abstract
Each year, the Michigan State Police evaluate possible police vehicles during the Michigan State Police Vehicle Evaluation Program. During this program, vehicles are test driven by members of the Precision Driving Unit and are evaluated on many points, including acceleration, top speed, braking, and vehicle dynamics. The author presents a summary of each vehicle that was evaluated. Both pursuit vehicles and special service vehicles were evaluated. Among the pursuit vehicles tested were the Chevrolet Impala, the Dodge Intrepid, the Ford Crown Victoria, and the GM Hummer. The special service vehicles included the Chevrolet Tahoe, the Ford Expedition, and the Ford Explorer. During phase one of the testing, acceleration was measured from a stopping position to various speeds up to 100 mph, while top speed was measured on a 4.7 mile high-speed oval track. The author writes that the Dodge Intrepid was a bit slower in the 2003 tests than it was in 2002. However, brake problems that surfaced in the 2002 prototype were resolved in the 2003 model. Similar commentary is offered for all models and types of vehicles tested.