PIT Maneuver

The PIT maneuver is a pursuit tactic by which a pursuing vehicle can force a fleeing vehicle to abruptly turn sideways, causing the driver to lose control and stop. The backronym "PIT" has a number of different meanings, depending on the agency using it or school teaching it. The most common meanings are: Precision Immobilization Technique, Pursuit Immobilization Technique, Pursuit Intervention Technique, Push It Tough, Parallel Immobilization Technique, and Precision Intervention Tactic. In each case, the meaning is clear, regardless of how the acronym is explained. Other names for the same maneuver are: Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI), tactical ramming, legal intervention, and fishtailing. The technique is typically used by law enforcement officers as a safer alternative with which to bring car chases to a conclusion. Other methods of terminating a pursuit include TPAC and the use of spikes (also known by various trade names such as stop sticks or stingers).