I don't mean to sound harsh but US car chases always seem really slow and rubbish.
I suppose it's because your roads are mostly straight but the top speeds don't seem very high at all and they crash as soon as they hit a corner.
US is a huge place, and I live in Southern California which by the "statistics" has fewer accidents than other states. And to use a term by my dear cousins across the pond, that statistic is PURE rubbish. California has a very large population which offsets the statistics. We also have wonderful mild Mediterranean climate in most of the state, which basically means a ton of drivers not accustomed to driving in inclement or challenging conditions. When it rains here, the roads are mess of idiotic accidents. Add to that this modern preoccupation with social media and texting while driving, and many more unnecessary accidents. I can't expect to travel 25 miles on a local freeway in clear, dry, sparse traffic without having to deal with a back up from some accident, often a "solo spin out" which I assume was some moron not paying attention.
However, in our mountain states, and other places with snow, rain, unpaved roads, and rural highways we have many excellent drivers. And even as I am born and raised in Southern California, being a hunter, fisherman, outdoorsman, and into water and snow sports, I can drive just about any vehicle anywhere under all conditions. I always say that the true manhood test is being able to back your boat down a boat-ramp into the lake driving a standard (manual/stick transmission) while holding a beer between your knees in the dark with snow/ice on the ground, and do so successfully on the first attempt.
I did a rewatch of X-Files recently and honestly, all the cars they drove were total garbage with any high speed chase topping out at about 70mph and even they they were all over the place as if that was edge of the seat super speed.
Hollywood is not a good representation of much over here. Knowing how to drive a car aggressively is like the skills needed in Formula 1 racing. Stunt drivers make a lot of practice runs before getting the perfect film shot/take. Noticed by all the other tire/rubber marks already on the road for that scene.
The FBI may indeed have all the money in the world but they inevitably choose total shitboxes that look like they would conk-out if they had to just drive at standard UK motorway speeds let alone have a high speed chase with some kid in his souped-up Honda civic with 10 grands worth of mods.
Not sure about the big FBI SUVs, but for your standard police vehicle today, agencies eventually had to shift from your old style rear wheel drive sedans with large V8 engines and beefed up suspensions as American automakers have been pressured to discontinue those good old vehicles. And then with all of the modern police communication equipment, onboard computers, cameras, and more. A modern police vehicle is very heavy from all of that, and why the default now are those big stupid SUVs, normally designed for large overweight families to use to pull boats and trailers on long holiday trips.
Sorry, that was a bit all over the place bit it just makes me smile when a US car chase is shown and the reporters talk about 60mph being a high speed thrillride chase.
Well, 60mph on a residential street or a school zone would of course you agree be very high speed in that location. Also, when there is a suspect fleeing in a car and going 70-80, but all other cars nearby are stopped or going 35-40. Any collision at 80 vs 35 would be 45 miles of speed, times the mass, and distance for all that energy to decelerate in a collision, and that means if you are rear ended by say a SUV going 45mph into the rear of your Honda Civic or your 'Mini Cooper'.... an almost certain death sentence.
But I get your point.
nypost.com
