Press: Chase Lights May Cut Toll - 1985
This story was the first press story of Matthew in mainstream media. This was featured in an early right hand page of the Sydney Daily Telegraph newspaper. August, 1985 page 15.
A Sydney Inventor believes a warning system he designed for pursuit cars can lower the death and injury rate for high-speed police chases.
Since 1980, 39 people have been killed or injured on NSW roads during police chases.
Matthew Holden, 21, who devised a light-bar and sound system for pursuit vehicles said: “The exisitng system is not as effective as it could be. This may account for the number of people being killed.”
When Mr Holden was 17 he set up a company, Nifty Electronics.
He said: “This new light bar is my first major invention but I have been servicing light and sound systems on NSW police cars.
“My light-bar has two revolving field beams surrounded by highly polished reflectors. They give off light at 350 degrees all the time, a major advantage on the present system. It’s 100 watt siren can thrust sound ahead of a car going at high speed.”
Besides approaching police, fire and ambulance groups in NSW, Mr Holden has been in touch with police in the US and Hong Kong.
He said, “Many of those units are interested in seeing the finished product.”
The design has cost $15,000 and Mr Holden will have a finished model in six-months.
A police spokesman said it would be considered when tenders were called this year for a new light-bar.
Ambulance authorities have drawn attention to a new State law on giving way to emergency vehicles.
Where drivers previously had to pull to the left and stop, they now must pull to the left or right and stop to give complete right of way.
Tags: Export, Holden, Nifty Electronics, Signal One