High-speed pursuitsHigh-tech developments help end high-speed pursuits safely

New technological developments are helping police officers endhigh-speed pursuits without jeopardizing the safety of themselves or the suspect.

Thanks to OnStar, cars made by General Motors with the security and navigation system installed can be shut down remotely by law enforcement officials. Currently more than thirty General Motors models come with the system built in.

Meanwhile StarChase LLC, taking a cue from Batman, has developed a tracking device that can be deployed while driving. The GPS tracker is attached to a car-mounted launcher and when the pursuing officer is close enough to the suspect’s car, they can shoot the tracker which sticks to a car’s bumper.

Once deployed, police can safely follow the car until the vehicle stops and the suspect can be apprehended.

Other innovative methods to stop fleeing vehicles include the Pit-Bul, a speed bump that is actually a remotely-fired net that can snare the rear tire of a vehicle. The developers of Pit-Bul are also at work on The Viper, which is similar to Pit-Bul, but deploys a remotely triggered spike strip instead.

In addition, PurTech LLC has developed the PT11000, a device attached to the front of a patrol car that can deploy as many as three stop sticks with the touch of a button. The stop sticks can even be deployed while the car is in motion, meaning the officer never has to leave the vehicle.