Canadian police change patrol car design for the first time in 30 years
If you live in Canada or are planning a trip to this country, you may soon notice that local police cars look different. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has decided to update the appearance of patrol cars to increase their visibility on the roads.
Details of the new design
The new livery features a combination of black and white, a stark change from the previous all-white version. As shown in the example of the Ford Explorer, the front bumper, hood, and front fenders are now black, while the doors remain white. The black color also continues onto the rear of the vehicle.
While not everyone is convinced that the new look will actually improve visibility as the RCMP claims, such livery is reminiscent of police car designs in many US states. The bright blue ‘Police’ lettering on the doors and the iconic RCMP logo have become larger and more prominent. Authorities note that these graphic elements are reflective, making them easy to spot at night.
‘This new look prioritizes visibility and public safety,’ said RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme. ‘It ensures our vehicles will be instantly recognizable as police — in any community and under any circumstances — while respecting the longstanding RCMP identity and its proud history of serving communities across the country.’
Gradual implementation
Local provinces, territories, and municipalities will be able to add their own unique elements to the updated design. Importantly, Canada will not spend money on immediately repainting all patrol vehicles. Instead, current vehicles will retain their old livery until they are replaced, and only new cars will receive the black-and-white look.
The first vehicles with the new design will appear on roads this summer. This is the first change to the appearance of RCMP patrol cars in over 30 years.
The update to the patrol car design is an important step for improving road safety, as the visibility of police vehicles can help prevent accidents and crimes. At the same time, the gradual introduction of the new look allows for avoiding unnecessary costs, which is a sensible approach from a financial standpoint. It is interesting that the new design resembles the style of police cars in the United States, which may indicate a certain standardization of safety standards in North America. It remains to be seen whether the new livery will actually prove more effective in practice than the previous one.