New Patrol Cars For Traffic Department

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30512, 6 August 1964, Page 18

New Patrol Cars For Traffic Department

Three Italian sports saloons have been bought by the city council for use as traffic patrol cars. Fiat 1500 s, they will replace three larger cars used by the traffic department. The Traffic Superintendent (Mr J. F. Thomas) said yesterday that the cars would be painted white and fitted with the usual red roof lights, traffic signs, and two-way radios. Seat belts would be fitted, and two cars would be equipped with microwave speed detectors at present used on the larger cars. The cars will go into use tomorrow afternoon, after being handed over to the traffic department by the Italian Minister in New Zealand (Dr. O. Fabiani).

The cars have a top speed of about 93 miles an hour, and will accelerate to 60 miles an hour from a stop in

a little more than 15 seconds, which makes them faster in acceleration than many bigger cars. They have a turning circle of 34ft The New Zealand-assembled patrol cars will be equipped with alternators instead of generators, to cope with the heavy drain on the batteries caused by the additional electrical equipment. Mr Thomas said that the cars were driven from Auckland by three officers of the department. It was felt their

size would make them ideal for patrol duties in the city.

It had been decided to paint the cars white so that they would be more conspicuous to road users, particularly at night. He felt that black was “all wrong” for a traffic patrol car. The cars will be handed over at the premises of the local agent, Manchester Car Sales.