PIT maneuver

Overview

The PIT maneuver is a technique commonly employed by police departments to end high speed chases more safely, and with minimal damage to police equipment. The acronym PIT has many interpretations, including Precision Immobilization Technique, Pursuit Intervention Technique, Precision Intervention Tactic, and Parallel Immobilization Technique. The PIT maneuver appears in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: it is part of the driving school tests in San Fierro, and is used during the Wang Cars showroom asset missions with Cesar Vialpando.

Technique

The technique involves approaching a vehicle from behind and moving up along one side until your car's front end is approximately in-line with the other vehicle's rear axle. At this point, you must swerve carefully into the rear fender of the other vehicle in an attempt to cause its rear tires to lose traction. Once traction is lost, you must then brake, while continuing to turn into the other vehicle's rear fender. Managing acceleration/braking and steering are key at this point. When done properly, braking, then accelerating carefully into the rear fender of the fishtailing vehicle will cause it to make a complete 180 degree turn and to lose all momentum in its original direction, ending the chase.

Trivia

  • The body-on-frame construction of cars such as the Chevrolet Caprice and Ford Crown Victoria is an essential component of the ability of police cars to perform the PIT maneuver. Because of this design, damage to the vehicle's frame resulting from the PIT maneuver is minimized, making repairs far less expensive and time-consuming.
  • The Premier is used as the police vehicle in both Los Santos and San Fierro in GTA:SA, and is an ideal car for performing the PIT maneuver during the game, as it is seemingly based off both the Chevrolet Caprice and Ford Crown Victoria.