Police car facts for kids

A Ford Crown Victoria police car of the New York City Police Department in April 2008.

Police BMW X5, with active visual warnings showing, escorts riders on the Tour of Britain

A police car is a special vehicle used by police officers. It helps them do their job, like patrolling areas and responding to emergencies. Police cars are important for getting officers to a scene quickly. They can also transport people who are suspected of a crime.

Some police cars are made for specific tasks. For example, some help with traffic control. Others carry police dogs or special equipment for bomb disposal.

Most police cars have special markings to show they are police vehicles. This helps other drivers know to move aside when a police car is rushing to an emergency. These markings also help people see the police presence. Police cars also have loud sirens and flashing lights. These are used when officers need to get somewhere fast. However, some police cars do not have markings. These "unmarked" cars help police do their work without being easily noticed.

The History of Police Cars

Police cars have been around for a long time. In the early 1900s, police in the United Kingdom first used cars to catch drivers who were speeding. At first, this didn't work very well. So, special schools were opened to teach officers how to drive these new vehicles safely.

The first police car in the U.S. was used in Akron, Ohio, in 1910. By 1920, police cars were common across the U.S. Officers quickly realized that cars helped them respond faster to calls. Cars also allowed one officer to cover a much larger area. By the 1960s, many big cities started using police cars instead of officers walking patrols. But studies later showed that a mix of officers on foot and in cars worked best.

Police Chases and Safety

Sometimes, police cars are used in chases, also called "pursuits." This happens when a person suspected of a crime tries to drive away. The crime could be anything from a small offense to a serious one. Suspects often try to escape by driving very fast.

Police officers are trained to handle these situations carefully. They use special technology and driving techniques to try and stop a fleeing vehicle safely. One technique is called a 'take out'. This is when a police car carefully bumps the fleeing vehicle to make it lose control and stop.

When police officers are rushing to an emergency, they can drive through red lights or go over the speed limit. They must still be very careful to avoid accidents. Their main goal is to reach the scene quickly and safely.

Other Names for Police Cars

Police cars have many different names. Some common terms include:

• Police cruiser
• Squad car
• Area car
• Patrol car

People also have informal names for them, like:

• Cop car
• Black and white (because of their colors)
• Cherry top (referring to the red lights on top)
• Gumball machine (also for the lights)
• Jam sandwich (a British term)
• Panda car (another British term)

Depending on how their lights and markings look, a police car can be called a "marked unit" or an "unmarked unit."

Images for kids

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  Police Car, Akron, Ohio, 1899

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  Former Yugoslav Police Car - "Zastava" 750

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  Alfa Romeo 159 Patrol car in Italy

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  Mercedes-Benz W212 Patrol car in Hamburg, Germany

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  Luxgen Patrol car in Taiwan

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  BMW 530d Highway Patrol car in Sydney, Australia

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  Chevrolet Blazer Highway patrol in Brazil

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  Police pickup truck in Olympia, Washington

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  German unmarked Mercedes-Benz E-Class

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  The police car on the left is fitted with a lightbar, making it instantly recognizable as a police vehicle. The one on the right, commonly known as a 'slicktop' in the US does not have a lightbar, making it less obvious, particularly when seen from the front (e.g. in a driver's rear-view mirror)

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  A Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau car at Tiananmen Square.

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  Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor with emergency lights system (ELS) activated.

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  A Turkish TOMA water cannon of the General Directorate of Security in Turkey.

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  Yugoslav built BOV-M riot control armored vehicle

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  A WaWe 10.000 water cannon of the State Police of Hamburg in Germany

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  Supercars—including a Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari FF, Bentley Continental GT, and McLaren 12C—used for traffic enforcement by the Dubai Police Force. They are only used in tourist areas; regular units use standard patrol cars.

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  An unmarked Chevrolet Impala used by the Memphis Police Department. Flashing emergency lights are visible in the rear window.

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  A Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor used as a ghost car by the Toronto Police Service. A light is being shined on the front fender of the vehicle, revealing its hidden markings.

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  A Ford F-Series utility vehicle towing a horse trailer for the mounted unit of the Toronto Police Service

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  A Holden Ute (VE) used as a police dog vehicle by the Australian Federal Police

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  A Lenco BearCat and two mobile command centers used by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia

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  A bomb disposal vehicle used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation

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  A water cannon truck and a police armored vehicle used by the Saxon Police Force

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  A Ford Police Interceptor Utility used by the St. Thomas Police Service, with a Battenburg marking design along the side of the vehicle for better visibility

See also

In Spanish: Vehículo policial para niños