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(USGovernment-News.Com, June 16, 2013 ) Stockport, UK -- National Tyres and Autocare recently launched a new infographic on high-speed chase strategies used by the police. With amazing facts and figures, this informative graphic is designed to educate the public on police car chases and past incidents that have made international headlines. Based on the infographic, nearly 40% of high-speed police pursuits result in extensive crashes.
While the police use everything in their power to protect the public and other innocent drivers, they have implemented new technologies in recent years to ensure minimal risk. This includes tire-deflation devices, which are also known as “stingers” or “spike strips.” These devices are the most effective tools police have at their disposal when attempting to neutralize high-speed pursuits. Stingers entail 3 or 4 feet of interlinked tubes that have quills or hollow spikes. When thrown or placed in the path of a fleeing vehicle, the tires will begin to deflate. They are, however, not destroyed completely, which reduces the risk of a car crash or accident.
The police also utilize tagging and tracking devices. These units are used when a fleeing vehicle is traveling a rate of speed that is much too high to chase. Typically, an air launcher with a laser scope is used to fire a tracking projectile. This can be tracked on a digital roadmap, which allows police units to meet the fleeing vehicle at its destination.
According to the infographic, the police also use a number of pursuit immobilization techniques. One particular technique allows officers to stop a fleeing vehicle by tapping into the back of it with the front of their patrol car. This ultimately forces the fleeing vehicle to spin and come to a sudden stop.
At times, the use of deadly force is also the only option available for law enforcement officers. This is especially true if the pursuit has been going on for a while, which increases the risk of harm to innocent bystanders. If given the chance, police may fire their weapons at the driver of the fleeing vehicle. They will, of course, first try to shoot out their tyres. The police, however, try to avoid using their weapons in these scenarios altogether. After all, gunfire increases the risk of accidental death to bystanders as well.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that potentially deadly force may be used to end high speed chases. This is especially true if they pose a serious risk to the public at large. For more information on this ruling, simply review the Timothy Scott vs. Victor Harris case of 2007.
While we’ve all seen police chases on television, one of the longest and most famous chases is courtesy of OJ Simpson. Over 20 police cars and helicopters followed Simpson’s white Ford Bronco down 1-405 in California at 56 km/h (35 miles per hour). The chase lasted nearly an hour and a half, and was viewed live by 95 million people.
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