Hualien Trials Green Light Priority for Ambulances to Speed Up Emergency Response

Hualien County in Taiwan is testing a new system designed to give ambulances priority green lights at five major intersections near Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. This initiative integrates Interlux AI smart traffic signals with C-V2X vehicle-to-everything communication technology.

The project, a collaboration between the Hualien County Government's Construction Department and the Fire Bureau, aims to shorten ambulance crossing times through intersections by an estimated 20% to 30%. By dynamically adjusting traffic signal timing based on real-time traffic flow and the ambulance's location and predicted arrival time, the system ensures emergency vehicles can pass through intersections more quickly, potentially saving crucial minutes in emergency rescues.

Additionally, variable message signs (CMS) at these intersections will display alerts when an ambulance is approaching, warning drivers to slow down and yield. This aims to reduce the risk of accidents caused by sudden evasive maneuvers by other vehicles and enhance overall road safety.

The trial is divided into two phases. The first phase, from August 15 to August 31, focuses on collecting data on ambulance travel times and intersection traffic flow to establish baseline metrics. The second phase, from September 1 to September 30, will involve the official launch and effectiveness verification of the priority system. Based on the trial's results, the county plans to evaluate expanding the system to other critical intersections and emergency response scenarios.