The latest version of the
emirates police fleet is so impressive, people on the streets are begging to be
arrested and taken for a ride. Civilians actually stop to click photographs as
the police cars pass by.
The latest addition to the
fleet is a state-of-the-art, US $280,000 McLaren MP4-12C. It joins the Dubai
police’s garage of the world’s most expensive patrol cars – a Lamborghini, an
Aston Martin, a Bentley, a Ferrari and a Chevrolet. All of these cars can comfortably
exceed 190 miles per hour. They are almost impossible to outrun.
Road accidents are a common
cause of death in the UAE; one person is killed in traffic every 26 hours. Most
deaths are caused by speeding, driving while using mobile phones and driving
without a seat-belt. Early last year, Dubai police released a government
outlined specification stressing on the necessity of a fleet of
top-of-the-range supercars to restore order on the city streets.
Officers need to take a
compulsory driving course before they can get their pick off the fleet. Mariam
Ahmed, a cop who personally owns a Toyota Land Cruiser, chose a Ferrari FF to
patrol the streets. “It’s the first time I’ve driven a sports car,” she said.
“When they chose me, I couldn’t believe it. Driving is just amazing. I miss the
car off-duty. My Land Cruiser does not compare.”
Interestingly, ever since the
supercar fleet was introduced, speeding drivers have been pleading policemen to
detain and escort them to the station in these cars. “It’s funny because we
hear people begging us to arrest them for any reason so they can have a tour in
the Ferrari,” Mariam said.
Another impressive supercar in
the fleet is the limited-edition 217 mph Lamborghini Aventador (celebrating the
firm’s 50th anniversary). 25-year-old Khalifa Abdullah Mohammed drives one of
these. “I have issued about 30 tickets to drivers blocking the traffic and
parking in prohibited places. The most amazing thing about driving such a car
is how people look at you with a big smile.” he said. Dubai police also took on
50 Kia Mohaves last year, 35 of which were marked as patrol cars.
The custom-made McLaren won
‘Car of the Year’ and ‘Best Supercar’ at the Middle East Motor Awards this
year. It weighs almost the same as a small Citroen, but is three times more
powerful than British patrol cars.
The MP4-12C has a
twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre engine that generates three times the power of the
British panda car. It can accelerate from zero to 62 miles per hour in just 3.1
seconds. The carbon fiber body contributes to its light weight. It only weighs
1,306 kilograms, quite below the industry average of 1,500 to 1,700 kilograms.
It also carries a ‘2020’ number plate, to commemorate Dubai’s successful World
Expo 2020 bid.
I think it’s great that the
government of Dubai empowers its cops with the latest in automotive technology.
Don’t forget to watch the video of these cops with their fleet of supercars. It
is really impressive! Too bad they can’t cross the speed-limit, though.
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