The efficiency of emergency medical services (EMS), fire and police departments is increasingly compromised by traffic congestion and the reluctance of drivers to yield to emergency vehicles. A recent industry survey of 2,500 first responders showed that 49.5% of first responder agencies reported worsened response times in 2024 compared to 2023. Another 41.7% cited traffic congestion as the biggest challenge in improving response times.
…To address these challenges, emerging technologies are being developed and implemented to help reduce delays and accidents involving emergency vehicles. One such technology is emergency vehicle preemption (EVP), designed to provide a green light for emergency vehicles as they approach intersections, allowing them to pass through safely and quickly.
EVP technology works by interrupting the normal traffic signal timing to prioritize the passage of emergency vehicles. This not only reduces the travel time for emergency responders but also improves safety by reducing the likelihood of collisions at intersections.