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Bold new plan for police pursuits:
Constable Peter McAulay, 24, was hit early [on the morning of Sept. 27] after setting up road spikes to try and stop two teenagers in an allegedly stolen vehicle. A 16-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl have been charged with attempted murder after Constable McAulay was rushed to Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital with serious head injuries and broken bones and fractures.
After the horrific crash, Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers is calling for remote vehicle immobilisers to become mandatory in new cars.
"I started in 2012. I have written to three successive prime ministers but it is now time for action, bipartisan support. With remote engine immobilisers there will never be a need for a police pursuit," Mr Leavers told Today. "The primary situation is to protect lives and property. It can improve safety. It is a great thing. It is a no-brainer. We need to change the Australian design regulation. Within five to 10 years there will never be another police pursuit. We will be able to disable any stolen car at any point in time and ensure safety. It is commonsense."
The proposed engine immobilisers wouldn't just be able to stop a car in its tracks, police would also be able to track vehicles through GPS.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 04 2018, @03:25PM (2 children)
"Firing at a vehicle is much safer if done from above"
Er. No.
Moving shooter, moving target, variable distance, variable windspeed, variable angle of gravity, variable G loading on the shooter, not to mention turbulence. Even expert marksmen have difficulty with these shots. It is a very rare skill. The U.S. hosts a top sniper competition for NATO countries. They've televised it a few times. The only guys who make this shot regularly, are the Americans. And that is because we train specifically for anti-insurgency more than anybody else.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 04 2018, @06:29PM (1 child)
Seriously, "variable windspeed"???? WTF. You're out of your mind.
The shot is taken from the minimum safe helicopter height, aiming straight down. In an area with normal buildings and trees, that height is about 50 feet. Wind and turbulence will do nothing to 50 caliber at a distance of 50 feet.
Neither the vehicle nor the helicopter are moving erratically. (if they do for a moment, wait a bit) Both travel along a highway, one right above the other. There isn't any interseting G loading.
Seriously, WTF? This isn't some sniper shot going horizontally for miles in Afghanistan. It's a vertical shot, directly down, from a stabilized gun turret at close range. For 50 caliber, it is practically point-blank.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 04 2018, @07:29PM
Yes, but are you sure that, just in case, it might not be a good idea to instead use a radar-guided missile to disable the suspect's vehicle?