Police officers 'avoid' driving Ranger

[BAXR8_Ute]

Originally Posted by Auslandau

Why don't they just 'avoid' having head ons?

Haha!! Wouldnt that be nice if we could all do that!

[ebxr8240]

Gov depts have stopped leasing Hilux 4Wd due to their price..
Besides they wouldn't handle that much better...

[flappist]

Well what would you expect from car with red hair.....

[burnz]

as stated in the article, no testing of other suitable vehicles.

just the cheapest.

[BAXR8_Ute]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

Gov depts have stopped leasing Hilux 4Wd due to their price..
Besides they wouldn't handle that much better...

Not true. These are replacing the rangers. They handle a lot better surprisingly.

[ebxr8240]

Originally Posted by Wotto

Not true. These are replacing the rangers. They handle a lot better surprisingly.

They have changed the specs to handle the added back section..
Trouble is manu don't or won't warrant any mods to handle extra weight etc..
Even if it's just upgraded springs and tyres...
Latter model light trucks handling wise has got alot better the last few models also...New Triton handle way better than my old Toyota, Rodeo before it...Even though it doesn't look anything special...
It STILL comes to driving the vehicle though..
Heaps of other Gov depts have similar weight over back wheels like that
which don't have as many roll overs..

[DJR-351]

The local wallopers up here have just taken delivery of a Hilux 4x4, they also have a new V8 TD Landcruiser Troopy....

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Tobey

Are you going to strap 6 drunken men into a seat after they have been arrested for brawling outside the local? Do you think that would be a walk in the park? The heading we would then see is police using excessive force...

Can't really win can they?

The same way you get 10 angry prisoners into a seat.

Hell I think the angry drunks would be happy when they get into their climate controlled (heater and aircon) metal box with 9 of their mates on a hot night for their free taxi ride back to the station and free hotel for the weekend.

It would be a good replacement for those stupid VW Vans they have in the city, which you fit one person in the back.

[mik]

it`s a fact of life vehicles with a higher centre of gravity tip over easier(especially with a heavy pod on the back), the bloke is probably right, the ranger is the wrong application for this job, an f series with dualys on the back would be the go .

[irish2]

Originally Posted by mik

it`s a fact of life vehicles with a higher centre of gravity tip over easier(especially with a heavy pod on the back), the bloke is probably right, the ranger is the wrong application for this job, an f series with dualys on the back would be the go .

Or just a commodore or falcon ute maybe?

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by irish2

Or just a commodore or falcon ute maybe?

Not enough ground clearance to get around some of the spots round here.

[Wise]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

They have special cars for pursuit..

Thats right. The only cars allowed to pursue are the ones that meet the safe pursuit requirements and thats the SS Commodores, the F6s, XR6Ts. The others are a grey area, like the base model falcons and commodores where judgement comes in. But you're definitely not allowed to pursue in one of these which is intended for general duties.

[BAXR8_Ute]

Originally Posted by Wise

Thats right. The only cars allowed to pursue are the ones that meet the safe pursuit requirements and thats the SS Commodores, the F6s, XR6Ts. The others are a grey area, like the base model falcons and commodores where judgement comes in. But you're definitely not allowed to pursue in one of these which is intended for general duties.

Highway cars being SS's XR6T's can pursue. But so can base model falcons, Camrys. Lancers etc. Even Patrols and Pajeros can pursue if no sedans are available. The capability of the car doesnt come into it as much as if its marked or not. ie: lightbar and signage. A fully marked Camry would be preferable in a pursuit over an unmarked Highway XR6T. The vehicles with external cages cant pursue but can go urgent duty if the jobs life threatening / demands urgent action.

[platinumXR]

Originally Posted by mik

It`s a fact of life: vehicles with a higher centre of gravity tip over easier (especially with a heavy pod on the back), the bloke is probably right; the Ranger [with the hi-lift suspension kit] is the wrong application for this job...

...as opposed to a Turbo Hilux with lower suspension.

Much better I suspect.

[vibe_xr6]

UPDATED

Tumut police car rollover claims refuted
NICOLE BARLOW
14 Jul, 2011 12:00 AM
AN ACCIDENT involving a police car last week has officers continuing to feud over the safety of their vehicles.

Police Association executive member for southern region Mick Connor slammed the Ford Rangers for their poor safety after a car transporting two Tumut police officers and a prisoner rolled following a head-on collision with a Daewoo.

Mr Connor took the opportunity to point out that the cars are unsafe, although he does not believe the vehicle was the cause of last week's crash.

Detective Inspector Brad Monk from NSW Police Force Fleet Services has come to the defence of the vehicles, calling Mr Connor's statements "misleading".

Detective Inspector Monk said the vehicle involved in last week's accident had been modified to a standard agreed to by the Police Association of NSW.

But Mr Connor said an independent engineer conducted the testing only after a ban on the vehicles was lifted last year.

Until then, Mr Connor said, they were unaware of the handling capabilities of the cars.

"Up until recently, there was nobody trained in urgent duty runs in a Ranger with a pod on it during a drivers' course," Mr Connor said.

"They try to say it was operator error when these vehicles started rolling over at low speed."

The lack of training coupled with restrictions enforced on police driving the vehicles is what makes them a hazard, according to Mr Connor.

"If there are absolutely no problems like he is intimating, why are there restrictions?" he said.

"There have never been restrictions on police vehicles until now.

"These restrictions are there because they are not safe."

But Detective Inspector Monk deems the vehicles roadworthy because their adjustments were approved by Police Association of NSW.


About time they talk some sense

[IronFalcon]

Rather glad I'm a Vic - the VE divvy van is at lest halfway decent when stacked up against the ice-cream trucks from our more northern neighbours.

Using vehicles with a high centre of gravity as general duties police vehicles (which are inevitably going to be used in urgent duty driving situations and pursuits) is just asking to have members injured or killed.

What makes the situation worse is that it sounds like our northern neighbors get urgent duty driving training in sedans, then given a truck to go and do the job? Sounds like being taught to play cricket with a cricket bat, then being sent in for your first innings with a golf club.

[DBourne]

Originally Posted by IronFalcon

Using vehicles with a high centre of gravity as general duties police vehicles (which are inevitably going to be used in urgent duty driving situations and pursuits) is just asking to have members injured or killed.

Ambos seem perfectly able to respond urgently.. and their centre of gravity would be sky high.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Not enough ground clearance to get around some of the spots round here.

Oh ive seen some HWP cars go over some terrain up here that you wouldnt think possible

[b2tf]

Heheheh.

Ironically the local constabulary are in the paper again today for running their unmarked XR6T up the rear of another car during an urgent call, does this mean they wont be allowed to drive them too?

[Bucknaked]

Originally Posted by galaxy xr8

I'd like to know how those 10 roll over's occurred ?.

Fat prisoners.

[DBourne]

They'll say speed was not a factor I'm sure

[mik]

have a gander at this, it`s pretty obvious this has been a topic before, this report from around 2000 same complaints different cars. it`s true some vehicles have less tolerance for tipping over , but you can tip anything over if you don`t drive to the vehicles limits.
http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc/reports/muarc184.pdf

[jcxr]

The Ranga we have just purchased has had to have serious spring revisions to even get it to ride nice, handled like a POS

[Ben73]

Get a standard SS or xr6 ute with a hardtop and make the scum bags lay down in the back. Then you wont have a high centre of gravity.

[mik]

Originally Posted by Ben73

Get a standard SS or xr6 ute with a hardtop and make the scum bags lay down in the back. Then you wont have a high centre of gravity.

[ebxr8240]

Where's the duty of care ?? If they had prisoners ???

this doesnt worry me