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Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Safety, Technology, Ford, Police/Emergency

Ford Police Interceptors are to gain a surveillance mode, which uses park-assist technology to protect police officers.

It was only a matter of time before law enforcement agencies would realize the potential of driver-assist technology for use in their Ford Police Interceptors, and, now that they have, those back-up cameras and radar systems won’t be used just for parking, but for security, as well.

The surveillance mode system works when the camera or radar detects movement from behind the vehicle, and if it does when it’s activated, an alarm will alert the officer inside the car, the driver’s side window will roll up and the doors will lock, protecting the officer from an unwanted intrusion. The officer, of course, has the option to turn surveillance mode off, mainly in urban areas where pedestrians would constantly set the alarm off, and it can only be activated when the police car is in park.

Randy Freiburger, Ford’s police and ambulance fleet supervisor, came up with the patent-pending idea when researching the needs of police officers and riding along with them, during which time he realized officers would be safer with an extra set of eyes watching the area behind their cars, especially at night or when they’re completing paperwork, using the in-car computer or handling a radar gun. “Unfortunately, there are people with bad intentions who sneak up on police officers,” he says.

Ford and Intermotive Inc. are developing the surveillance mode system together, and it can be installed at Crown, the facility near Ford’s plant in Chicago where police car accessories are installed, or it can be upfitted locally by working directly with Intermotive. We’re glad police officers have an extra layer of protection courtesy of everyday automobile technologies – it’s a rough world out there! Scroll down to glean more details in the press release.

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New Ford Police Interceptor tech protects cops’ backsides originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jul 2013 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Government/Legal

There are plenty of important rules when it comes to attending a track day, but one of the most easily overlooked and simultaneously important is, “Thou shalt not speed to or from the facility.” Aside from all of that moralistic stuff about putting the public in danger, exceeding the posted limit also does a number on the reputation of whatever track you’re headed to. After all, it’s a rare community that actually the embraces the sound of engines revving and tires squealing at 7:00 a.m. on the weekend; most tracks don’t need any “help” in the bad PR department.

Apparently the members of ExoticsRally.com missed the memo. A slew of drivers from that site recently participated in a charity event where they could pay $100 for a lead-follow lap at the famous (and exclusive) Monticello Motor Club. An extra Benji would allow for a quicker lap, and those who’d been on track before could buy additional track time.

Unfortunately, around 100 of the participants were busted doing well over 100 mph on their way to the track. Local law enforcement was not amused, handing out tickets by the fistful for everything from speeding to improper equipment in a bid to get drivers piloting everything from Dodge Vipers and Chevrolet Corvettes to Nissan GT-Rs to cool their heels.

Do us all a favor. If you like your local track, keep it legal on the surrounding streets, or the place might not be open for business next year. Thanks for the tip, Monroe!

[Source: The Times-Herald Record]

Report: Cops pull over 100 cars en route to Monticello originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Nov 2010 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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