South Australia Police enlist new shadow Toyota LandCruiser, Kluger and Subaru Outback patrol cars that are harder to spot

A fleet of new police cars is going to be harder to spot.

South Australia Police have revealed six new patrol cars that will be hiding in plain sight.

Dubbed shadow patrol cars, the hard-to-see livery will be applied to a range of vehicles including a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, Toyota Kluger and a previous-generation Subaru Outback.

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The vehicles feature colour matched and subdued police markings that are less visible in the daytime, but reflect at night when they catch the light.

Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens said the new subdued police cars were to boost road safety and stop tragedy before it occurs.

South Australia Police said drink and drug driving, along with dangerous road users or behaviours contributed to 67 per cent of the road fatalities this year.

He also said the hiding in plain sight nature of the cars will be a deterrence.

“If people know police may be on the road in vehicles that are not immediately obvious from a distance, they may think twice before speeding, driving affected by alcohol or drugs, using their phone, or taking risks behind the wheel,” he said.

The new vehicles will take part in routine road policing and targeted enforcement operations in metropolitan and rural areas, according to South Australia Police.

Each vehicle will be equipped with standard Highway Patrol and road policing equipment, including speed detectors, alcohol and drug testing and safety equipment.

South Australia Police said these vehicles will complement, not replace, the high visibility Highway Patrol vehicles currently used in the state.

The new fleet of shadow patrol cars has already had an immediate impact. They nabbed a driver on Wednesday in Seaford, who was spotted driving erratically.

He was reported for driving while under the influence and fail to comply with breath analysis.

He was issued with a 12-month instant loss of licence, and his vehicle was impounded for 28 days.