Queensland improves emergency vehicle access with EVP technology

Australia's Queensland Government has released the new emergency vehicle priority (EVP) system, which has been designed to improve access for emergency services approaching traffic signals in Cairns city.  

The system provides a green traffic signal to approaching emergency vehicles fitted with the technology, and has been currently installed at 72 intersections in Cairns. 

The systems have also been deployed on 39 Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) vehicles, while Queensland Fire and Emergency Services appliances will be fitted with the solution and operational shortly. 

Queensland Main Roads and Road Safety Acting Minister Steven Miles said that the EVP system is a congestion-busting technology that gives priority to the emergency response vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances. 

Miles added: “The time it could save ambulance or firefighting vehicles arriving at the scene of an emergency could be the difference between life and death. 

“As the population in Queensland grows and demand for emergency responses increase, the development of EVP could not have come at a better time to help us reduce emergency response times into the future.” 

The government plans to deploy the technology in Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Rockhampton and Gladstone as part of a A$13.5m ($10.7m) investment. 

Currently, 1917 intersections, 419 ambulances, and 94 fire appliances are equipped with EVP technology across Queensland.