Since September, the Norfolk Fire Division has integrated HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud technology into its emergency response units. This innovative technology allows firefighters to transmit important alerts about approaching emergency vehicles directly to nearby motorists through connected vehicle systems and navigation applications.
As a result of this adoption, the fire division has successfully alerted drivers of approaching emergency vehicles 17,483 times since its implementation. The Safety Cloud utilizes vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication technology to send real-time alerts to motorists, allowing them to safely yield and make way for the responding units.
Assistant fire chief Trever O’Brien emphasized that this technology is a crucial aspect of the city’s commitment to improving public safety and emergency response capabilities. He stressed the importance of motorists being aware of approaching emergency vehicles and yielding appropriately to keep both themselves and responders safe during incidents. O’Brien urged drivers to avoid stopping in roundabouts or intersections, as these areas are essential for responders to access emergencies quickly and safely.
The Norfolk Fire Division is optimistic that this technology will continue to be a valuable asset in improving overall safety and response efficiency for all parties involved.
