Implementation of Emergency Vehicle Preemption (EVP)

Driving cautiously on the road saves your life as well as others. The sudden facing of an emergency vehicle can change the track of other vehicles as individual driver's maneuvers might get confused and create conflicts that can cause emergency vehicle crashes or block lanes increasing response times. 

Using Emergency Vehicle Preemption (EVP) to provide emergency vehicles a green light at crossings can lessen driver distraction, needless conflicts and improve emergency response times. 

Read on as we discuss why is it essential to Implement Emergency Vehicle Preemption -

Emergency vehicle preemption allows for a considerable reduction in response times. The system allows emergency vehicles along the U.S. to pass through high-volume crossings quickly with fewer conflicts, saving few seconds per intersection. 

The system can reduce the number of emergency vehicle crashes - which is around an average of 2.3 crossing crashes per year & less than one crossing crash every five years. 

With reduced stoppages at signalized crossings, cities can reach the exact response times with fewer rescue and EMS stations than would ordinarily be required, rendering notable cost savings. 

In a few cities, the system permits police, fire/rescue, and EMS vehicles to get to an incident scene more quickly and with a decreased chance of a crash. 

The Implementation of Emergency Vehicle Preemption (EVP) can benefit several departments such as fire/rescue, police & also transit operators. 

Stakeholders must opt for emergency preemption to develop local "ITS" architecture. To leverage funding for the EVP, they must share costs with other ITS-based emergency response, congestion management, and clean air achievement programs. 

Signals near emergency facilities such as hospitals, trauma centers, fire/rescue, and EMS stations will be acquired more often than others, and operators may experience delays if various preemption events occur during a short period. Each of the sites showed that the public accepted the delay time. Through public awareness campaign that described the public safety benefits of preemption was a pivotal part in reducing preemption-related complaints. 

It is necessary to have a reliable and accountable authority to regulate system maintenance. With a set reporting system & clear lines of communication, all delays can be shunned to set necessary adjustments or repairs. Effective maintenance - EVP programs ensure that the system provides utmost safety & benefit to people around. 

Emergency vehicle drivers must use caution & not depend too much on the system. They must stop if the provision of the preemption phase is delayed, which is the waiting time out of an in-progress pedestrian phase. Emergency vehicle preemption movement and boundaries must be a part of primary and recurring emergency vehicle driver education.