City to test green light pilot project for emergency vehicles
CTV
A plan to get ambulances and fire trucks to emergencies faster in Winnipeg is moving ahead.
A plan to get ambulances and fire trucks to emergencies faster in Winnipeg is moving ahead.
The city has put out a request for proposals for a one-year pilot project that would see emergency vehicles get priority when seconds count.
“It saves lives, pure and simple," said Protection Committee Chair John Orlikow.
It’s known as emergency vehicle pre-emption or EVP. Fire trucks and ambulances approaching a signalized intersection would trigger the lights to turn green.
"That traffic pre-emption is part of the solution of getting lights and sirens where they need to go," said Coun. Sherri Rollins.
The pilot would test the technology at 10 intersections on 130 ambulances and fire trucks, to see how reliable the system works, and if it can be done without significantly disrupting traffic.
The trial is also needed to determine if this is feasible on a larger scale, with 140 emergency vehicles and 800 intersections.
