Winnipeg to test emergency vehicle pre-emption technology
Posted April 12, 2024 11:35 am.
The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) is looking into the benefits of emergency vehicle pre-emption (EVP) technology.
WFPS says EVP is currently being used by other first responder agencies to reduce the time it takes to get to time-critical calls while increasing road safety for drivers and first responders.
Fire trucks and ambulances will be equipped with transponders, that can automatically trigger green lights in the directions they are travelling.
It will also allow drivers time to give emergency vehicles a chance to move out of the way in a safe manner.
“Our crews respond to medical and fire emergencies where minutes and seconds matter,” said Chief Christian Schmidt. “We are hopeful that the results from the pilot will show that EVP technology can help us to provide even more efficient service to Winnipeggers, while also making our roadways safer.”
Winnipeg’s pilot project of the EVP technology began this week, with the tech being installed at 17 intersections along Osborne Street and several other intersections in the area.
The City has been recommended EVP technology in the past. In 2020, the WFPD Master Plan, and the City’s most recent Fire Underwriters Survey recommended EVP to improve safety.
A feasibility study in 2022 determined that EVP could potentially reduce response times in Winnipeg by up to 20 per cent and reduce the number of collisions involving emergency vehicles by 25 per cent.
It is also believed that EVP could improve patient outcomes, which would also reduce health care costs.
The pilot project is expected to last until March 2025, when it will be reevaluated.
