View from the Street

Traffic Engineers can greatly improve the safety of First Responders and the driving public by installing Emergency Vehicle Preemption systems of traffic signals. An example of the very high cost of intersection accidents happened On July 26, 2010 when TWO Rocky Mount , Virginia Firefighters were killed. NIOSH Recommendation #6: Municipalities and authorities having jurisdiction should consider the use of intersection control devices on emergency vehicles and selected traffic lights.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201019.html

Emergency Vehicle Preemption of Traffic Signals

http://www.gtt.com/gtt-applications-emergency-response

• Reduce intersection crash rates by up to 70%

• Improve response times by up to 25%

• Minimize investment for stations and vehicles

• Decrease liability for crashes with other motorists

• Increase adherence to NFPA Standard 1710

2013 Killed in the Line of Duty
Police Officers 24 http://www.odmp.org/search/year?year=2013
Fire Fighters 13 http://www.firehero.org/ NFA http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/
EMS 10 http://www.nemsms.org/notices.htm
Towers 06 http://www.internationaltowingmuseum.org/