The unpredictable nature of drivers' responses, combined with variable road conditions, make the use of spikes a lottery.
WHEN road spikes were introduced to Victoria early last year, it seemed to give police a useful alternative to dangerous, high-speed pursuits. Before the spikes, pursuits ended when police lost the offender, the offender crashed, police crashed or the pursuit was abandoned. Spikes offered the chance of a high-speed chase ending slowly and safely, with offenders in custody. At least, that is the theory.
The popular Hollywood image is of spikes blowing out offenders' tyres, but modern road spikes are designed to deflate them slowly, minimising the risk of drivers careering off the road into buildings, pedestrians or other cars.
The Premier, Steve Bracks, in March 2005 announced that the Government would introduce legislation allowing police to use the spikes as a way to curb high-speed chases. More than 70 collisions had occurred in the 825 high-speed pursuits in which police had been involved since July 2003.
During parliamentary debate on the initiative, which was supported by all parties, Mitcham MP Tony Robinson urged caution, calling for research into the use of spikes. In our view, he was right to do so.
This newspaper's report today raises serious questions about the safety of road spikes and about the effectiveness of police training. Last year, a 16-year-old driver, attempting to dodge spikes, veered off the Goulburn Valley Highway and into an embankment, critically injuring a young passenger. Police say the possibility of the teenager driving into a nearby town posed even greater risks. This is true. It is also true that police often have little time to make life-and-death decisions.
However, police documents obtained by The Sunday Age under freedom of information laws show that we need to know more about the use of spikes.
The police documents reveal other instances of drivers trying to avoid the spikes, and continuing to drive with flat tyres — or no tyres at all. Police have also driven over the spikes accidentally, as have innocent third parties.
While the spikes selected by the Victoria Police seem to work effectively, the unpredictable nature of drivers' responses, combined with variable road conditions, make their use a lottery.
The incidents further highlight that politicians often have little idea of what they are asserting.
Mr Bracks said the spikes would bring offenders to a controlled stop. In fact, one drove for 44 kilometres before being apprehended. Another drove off the road. Even the manufacturer concedes that tyre deflation can increase the possibility of drivers losing control and crashing, causing injury or death.
The Sunday Age supports continued use of the spikes — but only if their use is closely monitored by the police or an independent authority.