NCJ Number
141469
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 60 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1993) Pages: 45-47,50
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This report on the Michigan State Police tests of 1993 patrol vehicles presents performance measurements for six special service-package cars and six police patrol-package cars.
Abstract
The six special service-package cars were two Mustangs, two Camaros, one Caprice station wagon, and one Jeep Cherokee and the six police patrol-package cars were three Caprices, one Lumina, one Crown Victoria, and one Taurus. Each vehicle was subjected to six major tests and evaluations: vehicle dynamics, acceleration, top speed, braking, ergonomics, and fuel economy. Objectives, methodology, and data for each test are presented. The objective of the vehicle dynamics testing was to determine high-speed pursuit handling characteristics. The evaluation measured each vehicle's blending of suspension components, acceleration capabilities, and braking characteristics. The objective of the acceleration is to determine the ability of each vehicle to accelerate from a standing start to 60 miles per hour within 10.3 seconds, 80 miles per hour within 17.8 seconds, and 100 miles per hour within 29.9 seconds. The top speed test determined the vehicle's ability to reach 110 miles per hour within one mile. The braking test determined the acceptability of each vehicle's braking performance for pursuit service. The ergonomics and communications objective was to rate the vehicle's ability to provide a suitable environment for patrol officers to perform their jobs, to accommodate the required communications and emergency warning equipment, and to assess the relative difficulty of installing the equipment. The fuel economy test determined fuel economy potential. Five tables present the test findings for each vehicle.