In 2020, the Police’s new generation of cars based on the Volvo XC60 was presented.
The van was described as “the world’s best police car”, and was, among other things, equipped with a new super radar that would become a speeder’s worst nightmare.
Four years later, the high-tech system can best be described as a flop, as it still does not work as intended. It reports Carup.se.
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The police’s secret weapon
The idea with the new radar system is that it will be much easier for the police to catch the speeding offenders they come across on the roads.
With the old system, the police can only measure the speed of cars traveling in the same direction and driving in the same lane as the police car.
The new system can instead measure the speed of all cars within a certain distance from the police car, both in front of and behind the police car and regardless of lane and direction of travel.
With the help of cameras that can film 360 degrees around the police car, the system must also automatically read the number plates of the cars that are driving too fast. The fine is then sent by post to the owner of the car.
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The system is not working
The system is already installed in 2,200 Swedish police cars of the XC60 and V90 models, and undeniably has the potential to become a nightmare for more dedicated speeders.
If the system worked, that is. Several years after the system was introduced, however, technical problems are still encountered.
– There has been so much trouble that we don’t know where to start, says Erling Andersson, national coordinator for the traffic police, to Carup.se.
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An unclear prognosis
According to Irene Sokolow of the police press department, there have been problems with several aspects of the system, and priority has been given to solving problems related to the cameras and license plate reading.
These problems are now solved and the radar system, which according to Irene Sokolow lacks the necessary software, is next in line.
According to Carup.se, the investment in the new system has cost two billion kroner, but despite this, there is no forecast for when the system will work as planned.
– No, we will simply have to see when it is ready, says Erling Andersson to Carup.se.
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