Pimp my ride, say traffic cops

2008-08-08 09:54

Marelize Barnard

Cape Town - Porsche, Dodge Viper, V8-Mustang, Corvette, Lamborghini... Name any luxury car and it appears on the list of super speed-monsters that Cape Town traffic police officers would like to use to do their patrol work.

The Mother City's traffic officials feel somewhat inferior when they compare their standard vehicles to patrol vehicles in other cities around the globe.

Now an earnest search has begun for companies that are willing to help the traffic department realise its dream.

At the monthly meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Safety and Security on Thursday, Heathcliffe Thomas, the head of Cape Town's traffic department, showed one photo after the other of other countries' super-bling patrol cars.

"We have to have world standards," was his passionate plea.

Oohs and aahs

The bling mobiles that evoked the most 'Oohs' and 'Aahs' were the Lamborghini Gallardos that are used in Italy and the UK, Hummers used in China and the US, and a Dodge Viper, Ford V8 Mustangs and Corvette CSs that watch over roads in the US.

The shortest acceleration time from 0 to 100km/h of a local patrol vehicle is 13.5 seconds - rather sad in comparison to a Porsche 911 Carrera's 4.5 seconds.

"We want to find a way to acquire vehicles in this category," Thomas said.

The portfolio committee's chairperson JP Smith of the DA pointed out that these kinds of luxury vehicles could motivate traffic officials.

Smith said it is not necessary to always buy at the lowest end of the scale.

The luxury vehicles will only be bought, however, if there are private sponsorships for them.

- Die Burger