Interpretation ID: nht92-5.30

DATE: July 6, 1992

FROM: Robert A. Dewey -- Captain, Rochester (NY) Police Department, Research and Evaluation Section

TO: Office of Chief Counsel, NHTSA

TITLE: None

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 8/20/92 from Paul J. Rice to Robert A. Dewey (A39; Std. 102)

TEXT:

The Rochester Police Department just took delivery of 46 1992 Ford police cars. Thirty five of the vehicles are Crown Victoria models and 11 are Taurus models. All of these vehicles are equipped with a device which requires the operator to depress the brake pedal in order to remove the car from the park position with the shift lever.

Upon discovering this feature, I spoke with representatives of the local Ford dealership and was informed that this was a federally required safety standard.

I recognize the safety advantage of this feature for the normal motoring public, however I do see some negative safety implications for police vehicle operators. An officer who comes under hostile fire while in his patrol car, could be delayed in a retreat from a dangerous situation.

I would like to know if this is a national safety standard and if so I would appreciate a copy of any regulation concerning this standard. I would further appreciate an interpretation from your office as to whether the Rochester Police Department can deactivate this switch if we determine that it is a safety hazard for our officers. Please keep in mind that all of our other patrol cars do not have this switch and many of our officers are assigned to drive a different car each day which may lead to confusion in a time of emergency.

I would appreciate a prompt response to this request in that we are preparing our new vehicles for service at this time.