The Czech police is adding specially equipped Škoda Kodiaqs to its fleet.
The practical demonstration only confirms this. Even though the Kodiaq performed the manoeuvre on the test polygon perhaps twenty times, the test car is absolutely fine apart from a few scratches on the front bumper. Even the pursued Octavia, which always got hit in the area behind the right rear wheel, looks in surprisingly good shape after these repeated manoeuvres. That shows both that the Škodas are resilient cars, but also that this technique for stopping a fleeing car is as non-violent as possible. According to the officers, the PIT manoeuvre itself is the supreme use of the frame, which is otherwise mostly used to block cars and other similar activities.
In addition to the frame, the typical police livery and the obligatory beacons and siren, the new police SUVs have other special equipment: there are radios, additional interior lighting, extra USB connections, a 230-volt socket and a notepad holder on the front of the passenger sun shade. “These are practical little things based on our daily needs and findings. In the past, we didn’t really have anywhere to write down the registration number of a flagged-up vehicle so that we could have the number in front of us all the time,” says Jeřábek. Another special feature is the seat belt in the rear seats, which is fastened outwards, so it has the clasp by the door. This is so that the police officer does not have to reach across a person’s body when restraining him.
In 2023 the Czech police took delivery of more Škoda Kodiaqs.