Sûreté du Québec shows off its new look
The Sûreté du Québec unveiled the first of their new design of patrol cars on Monday morning, presenting a vehicle that is expected to become the new face of the provincial police force over the course of the next three years.
“What is new about this automobile is that is all back at its base with white doors,” said Sergeant Éloïse Cossette, communications officer with the SQ. “The objective of this is to really create a colour contrast”
Cossette explained that research on patrol car patterning across North America shows that higher contrast vehicles result in safer working conditions for onduty officers because they are more visible. Although black vehicles do not inspire the idea of visibility, the spokesperson pointed out that in winter, when road conditions are more dangerous, a black car will stand out far better against the snow.
“Right now our vehicles are white on white,” she said.
The vehicle revealed in Sherbrooke is one of 225 that are rolling out at the moment and begins its work in the Arthabaska MRC today. Over the course of the next three years Cossette said that all 1060 patrol cars in the SQ fleet will gradually be replaced by vehicles of the new design. The rollout, she added, is being done progressively as vehicles are retired so that there is no added cost to the redesign.
In addition to the change in paint job, the new vehicles also feature exclusively LED lighting systems and improved internal security to keep up with the needs of modern police work.
“People will start to see these vehicles more and more,” Cossette said.