Study on Traffic Signal Preemption for Emergency Vehicles Now Available Online

Washington, D.C. – The ITS Joint Program Office announced the online availability of Traffic Signal Preemption for Emergency Vehicles: A Cross-Cutting Study. The study addresses Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology that can preempt the regular timing of traffic signals, providing a green light to an emergency vehicle at all intersections through which it travels. These emergency vehicle preemption (EVP) systems have been used in selected locations across the country for over 30 years, where they have demonstrated their ability to reduce secondary crashes and improve emergency response times.

Developed jointly by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NTHSA), the study presents the benefits, costs, extent of deployment, technology options and lessons learned associated with emergency vehicle preemption. The study examines three EVP examples in depth, discussing how the traffic, emergency services and preemption systems all operate in an integrated fashion. It also offers lessons learned in the areas of institutional issues, public acceptance, driver training, installation and maintenance.

The study is available online at http://www.itsdocs.fhwa.dot.gov/jpodocs/repts_te/14097.htm. To order a printed copy, send an e-mail message with shipping directions to itspubs@fhwa.dot.gov. For more information about the cross-cutting study, contact Linda Dodge of the ITS Joint Program Office at (202) 366-8032 or Linda.Dodge@fhwa.dot.gov.

Saegertown explosion

Firefighters Among More Than a Dozen Injured in PA Explosion

A major explosion Sunday injured more than a dozen people, including several firefighters, in Saegertown, Pennsylvania.
Trailer Fire Metairie (LA)

Trailer Catches Fire, Explodes on I-10, Damaging Nearby Metairie (LA) Homes

A trailer carrying motorcycles and nitrous oxide cannisters caught fire on Interstate 10 and exploded Saturday, damaging two nearby Metairie homes and possibly a passing car, according to Jefferson Parish and…