Once again, the terms "black and white" or "holstein" will be appropriate monikers for an Ontario police patrol car.

The Ontario Provincial Police are phasing out the current fleet of all-white cruisers with blue and gold striping - which have been in place since 1993 - and replacing them with the black-and-white vehicles once seen on Ontario highways.

The force has approximately 1,200 patrol cruisers and the transition is expected to be complete in 2 1/2 years.

A black-and-white will replace a current vehicle when it is time for the latter be taken off the road.

The first of the new cruisers has been delivered to the Dufferin OPP detachment and is now being used in general duty and traffic patrols.

"The black and white cruisers will provide a distinctive presence to the OPP's stepped-up efforts to make Ontario highways safer and to bring traffic safety issues in line with other important public safety issues and concerns," says OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino. "Officer and public safety are the primary concerns."

The Dufferin detachment's acting commander, Sergeant Steve Sills, points out attributes of the new cruisers, other than the markings.

"The black and white patrol vehicles will be instantly recognizable as an OPP patrol car and, with the new LED high visibility roof lights and vehicle markings, will have a greater impact on the visibility of OPP vehicles patrolling our communities and our roadways."