The new 'star' of the Roads Policing Unit wouldn't look out of place on the set of the latest Batman movie.
The unit has been loaned a Lotus Exige sports car - fully decorated with the Sussex Police insignia and complete with flashing blue lights. Powered by a supercharged engine and capable of accelerating to sixty miles per hour in 4.1 seconds the car will, however, purely be used for demonstration purposes as it tours Sussex over a six month period.
The aim of the iniative is to use the vehicle as an educational tool to engage with 'boy racers' and hammer home the message that dangerous driving wrecks lives.
Sergeant Paul Masterton explains:
"Many places in Sussex have a problem with youths speeding around, with their stereos blaring, making a general nuisance of themselves.
"We get calls about it every weekend, but when we turn up they usually speed off in the opposite direction as soon as they see us. It means we can never engage directly with these young people, and tell them about the dangers they're causing.
"When we pull up in this Lotus, however, it's a completely different story. In fact, it's usually them that are approaching us to have a look at the car!"
The interest young people show in the car provides officers with an ideal opportunity to explain the horrifying statistics of deaths on the road caused by inconsiderate driving.
Sergeant Masterson said:
"A huge number of 17 to 25-year-olds die or cause other deaths on the roads each year, and even more suffer serious injury. Any initiative that can help reduce these numbers must be welcomed with open arms."
The Lotus car has been loaned to Sussex Police by 'Dream Machines' of Heathfield.
