Traffic Signal Preemption Study
A new study has been released about the preemption of traffic lights as emergency vehicles approach the intersection (from Firehouse.com).
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Highway Administration have released "Traffic Signal Preemption for Emergency Vehicles -- A Cross Cutting Study"The Executive Summary states: This cross-cutting study identifies issues associated with emergency vehicle operations and emergency vehicle preemption. This study reports information gathered during a review of publications and site visits to three jurisdictions operating emergency vehicle preemption systems. The purpose of this study is to increase awareness among stakeholders -- including police, fire, rescue and emergency medical services (EMS) -- about the benefits and costs of emergency vehicle preemption.
Benefits include faster response times and fewer vehicle accidents at the intersections.
Emergency vehicle preemption has allowed Fairfax County, Virginia to reduce its response times. The system permits emergency vehicles along U.S. 1 to pass through high volume intersections more quickly with fewer conflicts, saving 30 to 45 seconds per intersection.Emergency vehicle preemption in the City of Plano, Texas has dramatically reduced the number of emergency vehicle crashes - from an average of 2.3 intersection crashes per year to less than one intersection crash every five years.
Here is the link to the full report.
These systems are a big deal in urban areas, but I don't think it would work well here in Miller. We only have one stop light!
