Whether it’s live footage of a police chase or a dramatic movie stunt-driving scene, we’ve all seen car chases where a pursuing vehicle nudges the bad guy’s car and pushes it into a spin. The technical term for this maneuver is the PIT or Pursuit Intervention Technique. It’s not the sort of thing you can use on a daily basis, but it’s a valuable skill to have in your vehicular escape and evasion toolbox.
In the video below, Iain Harrison of RECOIL talks with Bondurant Racing Chief Driving Instructor Mike McGovern about the theory behind the PIT maneuver. Then they hop into a pair of specially-equipped Ford Crown Victorias to go practice the PIT in a controlled environment. As Mike explains, finesse is essential as you make light contact with the other vehicle and then simultaneously turn and accelerate.
Practicing the PIT was a ton of fun, and one of many driving techniques we learned at Bondurant. For a more in-depth look at ramming through barricades, J-turns, and other skills, check out our article Driving Force: Lessons Learned at Bondurant Racing School.
