SENATOR ASKS NHTSA TO REOPEN INVESTIGATION INTO POPULAR ILLINOIS POLICE VEHICLE FOLLOWING NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT WITH SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER
Even though at least fifteen police officers have been killed in Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (CVPI) rear-end collisions, and more than double that number have been burned or injured since 1983, the CVPI continues to be the most popular police cruiser for Illinois State Police, City and Sheriff departments. Illinois is not alone in their preference for the CVPI, as the CVPI is the most common vehicle used by our nation’s law enforcement. In fact, in the State of New York, CVPI’s constitute over 80% of the State Police’s cruiser inventory.
Schumer said that now that over a dozen officers in the country, including a New York State Trooper near Yonkers in December, have been killed in Crown Victoria accidents, the problem must be investigated immediately. A County Deputy Sheriff narrowly escaped death Friday morning when his Crown Victoria police car collided with a tractor trailer and caught on fire.
Schumer renews call for National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to investigate why Crown Vics are susceptible to fiery accidents, and how to better remedy the problem. Previous attempts to retro-fit the cars have had little impact, and the most recent incident in New York demonstrates this ongoing issue. "This is a no-brainer. No one should have to explain how important it is to make sure our police officers have cars that are safe. We know that there's a problem, and now we need to figure out what we need to do to solve it," Schumer said. "If that means changing cars so that a different model is used, so be it. Time is of the essence and the longer we wait, the more accidents we'll see."
In May of this year, Schumer said the NHTSA should continue to investigate why the cars are especially susceptible to explosions, rear-end and otherwise, and what can be done to remedy the problem. Because NHTSA's previous suggestion to retro-fit the cars did not prevent recent accidents, Schumer said the NHTSA should consider whether there should be a nationwide moratorium on the purchase of any additional CVPI’s until remedial measures – like installing fuel bladders used in the auto racing industry, and fire suppression systems like those used in military vehicles – are proven effective.
Schumer said the NHTSA should also investigate whether all auto manufacturers need to increase and intensify testing the front, side and rear of vehicles marketed for police use. On June 30, NHTSA said it did not plan to re-open the investigation. Schumer said that Friday's episode is an example of why the agency should reconsider that decision.
“More people have been killed in Crown Victoria fires than were killed in the notorious Ford Pinto fires over twenty years ago," Schumer said. "We must go back to the drawing board to figure out a solution before another avoidable death occurs. The job of law enforcement is dangerous enough. These heros and their families should not have to worry about their vehicles causing them harm.”
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