There is a common saying: “Don’t play with fire.”  The fire department in Edmonton, Canada, takes that saying very seriously. They’re trying to use a new GPS technology in order to cut down their response time every time there’s an emergency.

 

Using GPS to Cut Down Response Time

The system that the fire department in Edmonton is trying to implement is already in use in other cities in Canada. It’s simple: equip fire trucks with a GPS system that turns red lights into green lights in key intersections. We have all experienced that jolt whenever you hear a fire truck air horn. When you hear the horn blow, you better move a let the truck pass. Time is of the essence, and every time a fire truck comes to a red light it has to slow down to avoid an accident. Well, with this GPS system, that wouldn’t happen anymore.

 

How it Works

Anytime a fire truck has its sirens on and it comes within 500 meters of an intersection equipped with this system, the red light turns green. The system even has the capability of turning on the left turn signal when needed. Those minutes saved at every intersection can mean the difference of life and death for an individual. Fire spreads very quickly.

 

Safety First

This GPS system is meant to help increase the safety of drivers. Every intersection has the potential for disaster. Getting into a crash in an emergency can easily turn an emergency into a nightmare. The ability to switch to a green light when needed, creates a win-win for both the fire department, and also for those driving at the intersection.