Wheelspin: Car 54, How Fast Are You? An Entrance Exam for Rookie Cruisers October 21, 2006
At many law enforcement agencies around the country, a black-and-white cannot wear the uniform or set off in hot pursuit of lawbreakers unless it has first passed muster with the Michigan State Police.
Chelsea, Mich.
AT many law enforcement agencies around the country, a black-and-white cannot wear the uniform or set off in hot pursuit of lawbreakers unless it has first passed muster with the Michigan State Police.
Though a rearview mirror full of red and blue flashing lights is something I dread whenever I drive, I volunteered to spend two days last month with the highway patrol of this car-centric state, witnessing the performance tests of 2007 police vehicles. The program is a rigorous evaluation that guides purchase decisions for thousands of police departments, not only in the United States and Canada, but also in far-flung locations like Guam and Australia.
For observers, the atmosphere was intentionally picniclike, right down to the barbecued ribs and sweet corn served at lunch by Ford Motor; that morning, DaimlerChrysler provided breakfast, and dinner came courtesy of General Motors. Still, every time a patrol car whizzed by with its engine wailing I experienced the queasiness we all suffer when a police car comes into view.
Lt. David Halliday, 52, the manager of the program, eased some of that anxiety by suggesting I call him Doc, a nickname conferred by his troops. A 6-foot-4 teddy bear is hidden beneath his military bearing, burnished by 30 years of law enforcement work, including 24 with the Michigan State Police.
Twenty years ago, Lieutenant Halliday was a driving instructor at the state police training academy. His busman’s holiday was test-driving new patrol cars at the annual evaluation program, an event that he helped develop into the acid test for police vehicles. According to the National Institute of Justice, an arm of the Department of Justice and a sponsor of the tests, the Michigan results directly influence $1.5 billion of annual sales, in a market of about 70,000 law enforcement vehicles.
“Acceleration, top speed and braking evaluations were first conducted by the M.S.P. in the 1950’s ? but only on the car from the manufacturer submitting the lowest bid,” Lieutenant Halliday said, noting Michigan’s longstanding role in this business.
“One year, when the gap between the low bid and the runner-up was $4.45, someone asked ?What if we paid an extra $5? Would we receive a better car?’ We couldn’t answer that question.”
The need for more information, and turmoil in the industry caused by downsizing in the 1970’s, prompted a major overhaul of the evaluation program. For the first time, any automaker willing to provide a car could participate in the test, which was expanded to six categories: acceleration; top speed; braking; vehicle dynamics or high-speed handling; fuel economy; and ergonomics and communications.
High-speed test-driving is done by four senior instructors in a state police driver-training school commanded by Lieutenant Halliday. Throughout the first test day here at the DaimlerChrysler Chelsea Proving Grounds, drivers gunned throttles and slammed brake pedals to gauge acceleration, top speed and braking performance. Day 2 takes place at Grattan Raceway near Grand Rapids, Mich., a two-mile course where handling was evaluated.
Evaluation of ergonomics and communications ? an area rising in importance because of all the communications gear in modern patrol cars ? is performed by a jury of 10 officers who test the cars on a state-owned course near Lansing. Each officer rates vehicles in 28 categories including comfort, functionality, visibility, access to storage areas and ease of routine maintenance, like checking the oil.
Similar evaluations are conducted in California by the sheriff’s department of Los Angeles County; many agencies will buy vehicles only if they excel in both trials.
“The one major difference between Michigan and L.A. tests is the extra emphasis we place on stopping ability when the brakes are hot from repeated use,” said Lt. Brian Moran, of the Los Angeles sheriff’s department, who was in Michigan observing the tests. California’s hills and traffic congestion stress brakes more severely than conditions in the Midwest.
Lieutenant Halliday runs the Michigan program with a staff of about 50, including colleagues and volunteers. The relationship between law enforcement agencies and the three domestic automakers that build police cars is mutually beneficial; officers provide real-world guidance so automakers produce better vehicles.
- Posted in : Uncategorized
- Author : arnold
Comments»
no comments yet - be the first?