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From Times Online

October 8, 2008

Fast but not so furious

Alan Copps sees how the boys in blue stay in control

Probably the fastest Police car in the world? The Caparo T1 car has been looked at by the Met Police in London and this concept high speed pursuit car version has been featured at recent motor fairs. Developed by engineers that helped deliver the iconic McLaren F1, the Caparo T1 is a new unconstrained sports car that sets new boundaries in performance. The road legal car has a top speed of over 200mph and goes from 0 to 60mph in 2.5 secs.

For full coverage of MPH click here

The MPH show is all about fast cars being driven quickly, but the implications of doing so on the public roads are also acknowledged. This year the Metropolitan police will be hosts of an exhibit to remind even the most ardent petrolhead that with great power comes great responsibility.

The force will be on hand to remind young drivers that statistically they are one of the most likely groups to be involved in an accident on Britain’s roads. About one in eight (13%) of those who hold driving licences are aged 25 or under, yet more than a quarter (29%) of all drivers killed in accidents are in this age group. Traffic accidents are the single biggest killer of young men under 25.

It is also a chance for the police to improve their public image. The past few years have seen concerns rising over the number of people killed and injured by a police vehicle, many occurring when the police are involved in a high-speed pursuit.

According to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, 2007-08 saw 23 people die following “police-related road traffic incidents”. That figure is down on the previous year – 36 – but still too high for many.

It is with this in mind that I find myself in the passenger seat of a BMW 5-series estate with a jam sandwich stripe and “blues and twos” flashing, hurtling down a London street. Sergeant Mark Stacey is at the wheel to demonstrate the skills needed to drive fast in a built-up area safely and is giving a running commentary on his progress.

“Good reaction from that guy in the red car . . . wave to that van, he stopped for us even though he had a green light . . . watch that solo motorcyclist, because of the helmet they’re often not aware of us until we’re right up with them. Ah! He’s seen us – thanks mate!”

The commentary flows, the siren changes tone, the traffic parts cooperatively. Then: “We’ve got a problem on the left here, nobody wants to pull into that bus lane because of the cameras. Well, you don’t want a 60 quid fine just because you pulled out of the way of a police car!”

So, as this is only a training run with the Metropolitan police high-speed pursuit unit, the siren stops, the lights are switched off, we slot in and tootle along with the rest of the traffic.

“The focus of training is now very much on a driver’s mental attitude and on the public perceptions of how we go about our business,” says Stacey, who has been training police drivers for more than 20 years at the Met’s Hendon driving school. “If you’re doing this for real, you’re on a mission and you don’t want to waste time getting upset because someone didn’t pull over.”

At MPH the police will try to attract attention by borrowing a Warrior armoured personnel carrier from the Army and doing it up in Battenburg blue and white squares and blue lights. “For us it’s a chance to get talking directly to the people we need to reach. We want to show them there is another side to speed. It’s enforcement through education, a message to deter the inappropriate use of speed,” says Sarah Kells of the traffic division’s operational command unit.

The Met’s display will also include a pile of shoddy tyres taken from vehicles stopped by police and advice on how to spot the danger signs of wear, a crucial factor in many accidents. And with the Warrior will be two BMW motorcycles and a BMW 535D estate as used by the Met, but as Chief Inspector Don Smith, who heads the Hendon driving school, is quick to point out, only by officers who have been through one of his rigorous training courses. About 3,000 police drivers pass through the training course each year.

“We may live in the age of antilock braking system (ABS), cornering brake control (CBC), electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and electronic stability programme (ESP),” says one of the instructors.

“But once you’re in a skid there’s nothing any of that lot can do to help you, so all our drivers have to learn how to bring the car back under control.”

Being in control while travelling quickly is perhaps the hardest trick to pull off. And in the passenger seat of the BMW with Stacey, I can only hope that he has mastered it.

Step on it, sarge . . . police supercars beat the speeders

Ford Lotus Cortina In the mid1960s, Ford’s Cortina saw police service as a Mk 1 GT and then the Lotus Cortina. They later moved on to favour V8-powered versions of the Rover SD1, which drank fuel like the Flying Squad put pints away.

Lamborghini Gallardo In 2005, the Met’s traffic police were more keen than usual for a spot of overtime. And who could blame them when there was a bright yellow Lamborghini Gallardo in the garage – complete with blues and twos?

Lotus Exige Unlike some of the high-performance police cars, this supercharged Lotus Exige served on duty with Sussex police last year, helping engage young drivers and highlight the dangers of reckless driving.

Ford RS200 Its fibreglass bodywork was built by Reliant, the same company behind the Robin, but villains wouldn't want to encounter the Essex constabulary in their RS200 with a 2.1 litre turbocharged motor.

Smart Fortwo Bournemouth police wanted to blend in with seaside trinkets when opting for their Smart Fortwo. But the Met police are going one better, choosing to run four of the new Smart electric drive models in central London.