The Crown Victoria is the vehicle of choice for 85% of law enforcement departments across the country. But does that mean that it’s safe?
The Center for Auto Safety reckons not. The Washington D.C. based group is leading a crusade to get the Crown Victoria recalled.
Their issue has mainly to do with the placement of the gas tank, which is right behind the rear axle of the vehicle, making it a potential fire hazard. Ford says there’s a kit which fixes the problem, but the Center disagrees. A spokesman stated plainly that even with the kit being offered to help mitigate disaster, ten crashes have occurred in which an officer lost their life due to a fire.
The Crown Victoria has been involved in 135 law enforcement-related fatal collisions across the country between 1994 and 2009. The latest attempt to have the Crown Vic recalled came about because of a fire which claimed the life of a Honolulu police officer over the weekend.
The country has gotten used to associating Crown Vics with officers of the law, but as a Bakersfield car accident lawyer, I think it’s important to continue to investigate the safety record of any and all vehicles. No matter what kind of car a person drives, he or she should feel safe, especially if that person’s an officer of the law. But that’s just my humble opinion as a car accident lawyer in Bakersfield.
