Skip to main content

Queensland’s emergency vehicles green-lit for a quicker response

A US$6 million rollout of new traffic signal technology is to be rolled out across Queensland, Australia, over the next four years to improve travel times for emergency services vehicles, allowing quicker response times to priority incidents across the state. Emergency vehicle priority (EVP) technology automatically interrupts traffic signal operations to provide a green light signal to emergency response vehicles when safe to do so.
November 25, 2015 Read time: 2 mins

A US$6 million rollout of new traffic signal technology is to be rolled out across Queensland, Australia, over the next four years to improve travel times for emergency services vehicles, allowing quicker response times to priority incidents across the state.

Emergency vehicle priority (EVP) technology automatically interrupts traffic signal operations to provide a green light signal to emergency response vehicles when safe to do so.
The new technology rollout will reduce wait times for Queensland Fire and Rescue Service and the Queensland Ambulance Service and create a safer road network for motorists and emergency services drivers.

A recent performance evaluation of EVP in the Gold Coast area has shown that travel time for EVP equipped vehicles was reduced by 17-26 per cent compared to non-EVP equipped vehicles. Over the next four years, a further 1,600 intersections and nearly 700 emergency vehicles will be fitted with the devices

Toowoomba and Mackay are the next regional centres planned for the rollout, with EVP technology to be enabled in 2016. This expansion will complement the existing 800 intersections, 215 ambulances and 69 fire trucks that are currently using this technology.

The project is a joint collaboration between 796 Transmax, the 7026 Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Queensland Ambulance Service, and Public Service Business Agency. 

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Positive incentives an alternative to road user charging?
    February 1, 2012
    The Netherlands has been looking at incentivising rush-hour avoidance. The intention is to better understand road users' motivations and find alternatives to congestion charging. Something significant needs to happen if we are to adequately address the traffic congestion and other issues caused by the ever-rising numbers of vehicles on our roads. Congestion or distance-based charging is seen as one way of managing demand and raising revenue for improvements to transport infrastructure. However, charging is
  • Making transportation systems safer and more sustainable with connectivity
    August 6, 2021
    Connectivity will make transportation systems safer and more sustainable as Anne-Lise Thieblemont of Qualcomm outlines
  • eCall mandatory in cars from 2015
    June 14, 2013
    The European Commission has adopted two proposals to ensure that, from October 2015, all new models of passenger cars and light duty vehicles will have to be fitted with 112 eCall, enabling them to automatically call emergency services in case of a serious crash. eCall is activated automatically as soon as in-vehicle sensors detect a serious crash. Once set off, the system dials the European emergency number 112, establishes a telephone link to the appropriate emergency call centre and sends details of the
  • EU Compass4D project begins work
    January 30, 2013
    The new EU co-funded project Compass4D recently launched by Ertico-ITS Europe is designed to prove the benefits of cooperative systems and deploy services for road users to increase road safety and energy efficiency, while reducing the level of congestion in road transport. Compass4D target users are drivers of buses, emergency vehicles, trucks, taxis, electric vehicles and private cars. They all need information to make their driving safer, less stressful and more energy efficient. As a consequence, bus dr