Responding on the road remains one of the biggest risks for first responders. Collisions kill more firefighters than smoke, flames, or building collapses. More law enforcement officers are killed in collisions than by violence each year. In 2022, an estimated 96,000 work zone collisions occurred, resulting in around 37,000 injured and nearly 900 fatalities. The tragic consequences continue to mount. 

This ever-present threat to first responders and roadway workers is only intensified by increasingly distracted drivers. They text, talk on the phone, eat breakfast on the go, chat with passengers, and fiddle with the radio. Modern cars also contribute to this distraction, with complex gear shifts and in-vehicle infotainment centers that can take the driver’s eyes off the road for just a second too long. 

Lights and sirens are simply no longer enough to guarantee that drivers will slow down and move over in time. First responders and roadway workers need additional protection on the road. Tools like digital alerting and traffic preemption systems are great options — but how are they different from one another? In this article, we'll break down the features and benefits of each, and how they can work together to create the ultimate layer of protection for first responders and roadway workers.

What is a Traffic Preemption system?

Traffic preemption, also referred to as emergency vehicle preemption (EVP), is a life-saving technology that was created to help first responders reach the scene faster and safer by adjusting traffic signals. EVP gives emergency response vehicles a green light on their approach to an intersection while providing a red light to conflicting approaches. To use this technology, emergency vehicles must install a piece of hardware or integrate with a platform to communicate with traffic lights.

EVP-equipped vehicles can change traffic lights, significantly reducing the risk of collisions involving emergency vehicles at intersections. When an emergency vehicle approaches an intersection, it maintains the green light until it has completely passed through. Once the vehicle clears the intersection, the communication with the preemption hardware ends, and the traffic signal returns to its normal operation, allowing traffic to flow as usual.

The motoring public will see this light change in plenty of time to slow down and come to a complete stop. EVP enables emergency responders to get on-scene fast, allowing them  to provide medical attention  or put out a fire as swiftly  as possible. Faster  response times can prevent a small fire from spreading, provide timely medical assistance to those affected, and ultimately save lives.

What is Safety Cloud?

On the other hand, Safety Cloud® by HAAS Alert brings down the risk of collision by delivering real-time electronic notifications, known as digital alerts, directly to nearby and approaching vehicles. These alerts warn drivers of an emergency responder, work zone, or other hazard in their proximity and prompts them to slow down and move over.

Safety Cloud sends digital alerts directly to drivers up to 30 seconds before coming into contact with a hazard in the road. This extra time gives drivers the opportunity to safely take appropriate action. Advanced warning systems like Safety Cloud have been proven to reduce the risk of collision by 90 percent compared to traditional lights alone.

Roadside workers and emergency personnel can set up Safety Cloud service through select telematics and connectivity platforms or an easy-to-install device that integrates with any vehicle or apparatus. Once the vehicle's emergency lights are turned in, Safety Cloud will automatically begin to send out alerts to nearby and approaching drivers. 

Currently, civilian motorists receive Safety Cloud digital alerts in two ways. Those who use the free navigation app Waze receive alerts. When an emergency vehicle is in their proximity, the Waze map will show the driver an emergency vehicle icon. Then, it displays a message that tells drivers an emergency vehicle is nearby and how far away it is.

Drivers of compatible Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles (models 2018 and newer) also receive Safety Cloud digital alerts through Stellantis' Emergency Vehicle Alert System. When an emergency vehicle is nearby, drivers get an audible and visual alert directly from their vehicle's infotainment center. Drivers will hear two dings. Simultaneously, a caution message with the appropriate hazard message will appear on their infotainment center's screen. Those who drive 2024 and new Volkswagen vehicles will also receive Safety Cloud digital alerts.

How can digital alerting and a traffic preemption system work together?

While they have similarities, digital alerting and traffic preemption are not the same solution. A digital alerting solution like Safety Cloud, on its own, does not communicate with traffic lights. Instead, emergency vehicles equipped with digital alerting communicate with other vehicles on the road. When an emergency vehicle broadcasts a digital alert, it simply notifies nearby drivers to slow down and move over, rather than coming to a complete stop for a red light.

However, there is a compelling use case for traffic preemption and digital alerting to come together as a cutting-edge vehicle-to-everything solution. Take the partnership between HAAS Alert and LYT.emergency. LYT activates green lights for emergency vehicles, while Safety Cloud notifies drivers when an emergency vehicle is nearby . This integration provides emergency vehicles with the best of both worlds — emergency vehicles can alert drivers of their presence while activating green lights en route to an emergency situation.

Digital alerting and traffic preemption are separate yet equally important pieces of road safety technology. When combined  they have the potential  to create safer roads and ensure  more first responders and roadway workers make it home safely every night. 

Want to learn how to better protect your crew when they’re responding on the road? Reach out today to learn what Safety Cloud can do for your fleet and how it can integrate with a traffic preemption system to create the ultimate layer of protection.

‍

[CTA_BUTTON]