Thinking of joining the police and want to learn how fast police cars are? Well, you’ve come to the right place. From the standard BMW to the ultra-reliable Volvo, just how fast does the average police car go?
If you’re a petrolhead looking to start your career as a police officer, this may not be the answer you want to hear – most commonly, police cars are not faster than your average civilian car.
But it’s not all bad news. Police officers serving within the Roads Policing Unit do have access to slightly faster cars than the norm! After all, how else would you be able to keep up with and ultimately detain an offender?
Today, we explore the fastest police cars in the UK and the rest of the world. Let’s dive right in.
Police Cars VS normal cars
As far as standard police cars are concerned, typically, they are not faster than your average civilian car. Why?
Because, although police cars are moderated to suit the needs of an officer on duty (think blue flashing lights and sirens), the interior workings of an engine are not commonly altered. This means that police cars are exactly the same make and model as you would find civilians driving, minus the protective cage and handcuffs, of course.
That being said, there are divisions that will ensure sheer speed and agility when purchasing vehicles such as the Roads Policing Unit. Let’s explore which vehicles are commonly used in this department.
The fastest Police cars
The fastest police cars are generally found in the Roads Policing Unit, otherwise known as traffic police cars. The reason for this may be obvious. For example, you wouldn’t equip a police officer with a traffic police car containing a small engine size unable to quickly reach high speeds. Why?
Police officers patrolling the roads should be prepared to partake in high-speed chases at any given time. Safely reaching high speeds in a sufficient amount of time is extremely important when dealing with pursuits.
With that in mind, here are the most commonly used traffic cars amongst the police force.
BMW 530d
A common patrol car in the UK, first up is the BMW 530d. As a seasoned driver, you will most likely have come across one of these brightly marked blue and yellow vehicles on your travels.
It has been reported that this patrol car can go from zero to sixty in just 6.3 seconds with a top speed of 155 miles per hour.
VOLVO V90
Next is the good old-fashioned reliable Volvo V90. Volvo has been providing police cars worldwide since 1929 and is by far the most recognisable manufacturer in the UK for the police force.
Quick enough for most pursuits, this patrol car can reach 60 miles per hour in just 6.1 seconds.
BMW X5 N57
The sighting of this car is not uncommon for the average driver in the UK. The fastest of them all, the BMX N57 can reach speeds of 60 miles per hour in as little as 3.7 seconds. Pretty impressive, right?
What is the fastest UK police car?
The fastest UK police car, and the most undoubtedly exotic of them all, is the McLaren Spider 12C.
This luxurious supercar has a value of up to £240K and can reach 60 miles per hour in as little as 3 seconds. Not only that, but this car also reaches a maximum speed of 207 miles per hour. We doubt a typical civilian car would be able to take this beast on in a high-speed chase!
Although this car certainly spreads a safety message to the public looking to outdo the law, it is unfortunately an impractical vehicle for everyday patrol use. Only comprising two seats and limited storage space for a police officer’s everyday safety gear, the car sports gull-wing doors meaning it is difficult to open the front doors unless both sides have ample space.
As a result, and for the safety of our officers and the public, the McLaren Spider 12C will not be used on the roads for any pursuits.
World’s fastest police car
If you are a lover of cars, you will know that the fastest police car in the world belongs to the United Arab Emirates: The Bugatti Veyron.
Marked in the UAE’s infamous dark green and white shade, this supercar reaches impressive speeds of up to 253 miles per hour. Home to six of the top eight fastest cars, the UAE has by far the fastest and most efficient fleet of cars of any police force in the world.
The good news is that, while you certainly wouldn’t be able to outdo the Bugatti Veyron, this luxurious vehicle is only used for public relations and not high-speed pursuits.
The Wrap-Up
There you have it. The top fastest police cars in both the UK and the world.
While you may be hoping to be behind the wheel of a fast supercar during your career as a police officer, it most likely won’t be the case. The safety of both officers and the public is absolutely paramount. This means ensuring that all police cars provide the highest safety levels possible, all while providing maximum speed for those inevitable pursuits.
