Hillsborough's new preemption system shaves Fire Rescue response times
The most crucial challenge faced by first responders is time. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue's (HCFR) Fire Chief Jason Dougherty knows all too well that the sooner firefighters arrive on scene, the better the outcomes for the people who need their help. Each minute could be a matter of life and death.
HCFR Captain Mario Pitts says the true stress of a call starts in the responding emergency vehicles - maneuvering through and clearing lanes of traffic. At red lights, congestion only gets worse, and drivers often get confused and are unsure of where to go or what to do. Resident safety is top priority.
Two years ago, HCFR and Hillsborough County's Traffic Management team knew a solution was needed - one that would keep both resident drivers and drivers of emergency vehicles safe. And one that would ultimately reduce the time it takes for first responders to reach residents on their worst day.
The County's Traffic Management team worked with HCFR to find a solution that would use data and smart tools to meet the needs of the growing county.
A year ago, the County implemented an emergency vehicle traffic preemption system, which temporarily modifies traffic signal operations to prioritize emergency vehicles.
In just 12 months, the system has already smoothed traffic flow and increased public safety. The system is implemented in over 85% of the County, and in the last year it has performed over 600,000 traffic signal preemptions.
Here's how it works
- The tech - GPS, cellular networks, and radio communication are used to link emergency vehicles with traffic signals
- In real time - The system detects approaching emergency vehicles and switches the light to green in the vehicle's path while setting crossing signals to red
- Reliability - Both cellular and radio communication keep the system working, even during network interruptions
- Streamlined traffic flow - The system minimizes disruption to traffic by ensuring that normal traffic patterns resume as quickly as possible after an emergency vehicle passes
In emergencies, mere seconds mean everything: They can change outcomes. The current preemption system is saving 30 seconds on every emergency response call, and Fire Chief Dougherty knows that this will only improve.
Soon, the system will be implemented countywide, and Hillsborough County's first responders will be able to more quickly assist residents on their worst day, bringing calm to their chaos.
Learn more about the emergency vehicle traffic preemption system!