Layout
When starting a level, wait momentarily before beginning to move. Your view will pan out, eventually showing the entire area. You can determine where hazards, power-ups, and the police cars are located.
Other cars
When you collide with police cars, your damage will be increased but otherwise have no effect. Get very close to other cars (except for police cars) to turn them into color-spreading vehicles. Each type of car is useful when converted to be on your side. Unconverted vehicles spread the grey back to the map.