Dutch ambulances proactively warn road users
25 Jul 2024[Case Study]
When every second counts
Every second counts when an ambulance is on its way to an emergency. Yet, drivers’ reactions to sirens and flashing lights often lead to chaos on the road. Modern cars are so well insulated that drivers only notice an emergency vehicle approaching very late.
This can lead to many dangerous situations, including new accidents involving ambulance drivers, their patients, and other road users. Of course, the delayed reaction time wastes valuable time that can sometimes even save lives.
Drivers react late to emergency vehicles
In 2023, a study by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management showed that 65% of Dutch drivers have difficulty reacting to approaching emergency vehicles in time.
A groundbreaking technological solution has been developed to deal with these dangerous situations. Monotch’s advanced TLEX (Traffic Live Exchange) system enables road users to proactively respond to approaching emergency services.
Real-time emergency vehicle warnings
“With the help of our partners, we can warn drivers in real-time of approaching emergency services, allowing them to respond adequately and clear the road,” says Erik Vrijens, Program Manager Smart Mobility at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
The innovative TLEX system, integrated into the Urban Data Access Platform (UDAP), uses anonymised vehicle data to warn road users via onboard units and mobile apps.
Large immediate implementation in The Netherlands
This technology can reach many road users thanks to collaborations with major car brands such as Kia and Hyundai and popular navigation and mobility apps such as TomTom and Flitsmeister. “It is our mission to improve road safety, and the Safety Priority Services project plays a crucial role in this,” says Vrijens.
Case study available
Based on the knowledge and experience Monotch gathered with the use case ‘emergency vehicle alerts (EVA)’, we have written an in-depth case study on this topic that is now available for free download.
In addition to the case study, a more technical whitepaper on this specific topic is available to everyone.
