NCJ Number
144260
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 41 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1993) Pages: 52-58
Date Published
1993
Length
7 pages
Annotation
For most police officers, going "off-road" means crossing a highway median strip or driving across a field or over small hills to pursue an offender. In other agencies, however, going off-road means driving in unfriendly terrain of all sorts, including desert, rocks, streams, and ditches.
Abstract
These agencies require vehicles that can wade through moderately deep water, climb over logs and rocks, and scale steep hills. Some of the available vehicles are described here, including the Chevrolet Blazer/GMC Truck Yukon, Ford Bronco, Toyota Land Cruiser, Mitsubishi Montero, and Chevrolet/GMC Truck Suburban. The features offered in these utility vehicles are discussed, including construction, ride, space, instrument displays, and 2WD-4WD options. Four-wheel drive vehicles, once found only in rural police departments, are now in the fleets of even the biggest metropolitan agencies. These vehicles are ideal for assignment as canine, rural and parkway patrol, beach, and search-and-rescue units. To fully reap the benefits of four-wheel drive vehicles, and to decide if the procurement of such a vehicle is appropriate, agencies must take into consideration factors including police driver training, charging systems of police vehicles, tires, ring and pinion gears, differentials, and driveshafts.