Hillsborough County's updated traffic signal system has reportedly delivered on its promise to improve public safety and efficiently guide emergency services through its congested roadways. According to a recent release from Hillsborough County government, the emergency vehicle traffic preemption system, which was rolled out county-wide over the last year, has improved the speed and safety for first responders, ultimately benefiting residents in need of urgent care.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue's (HCFR) Fire Chief Jason Dougherty emphasized the need to constantly seek better outcomes by reducing the time it takes firefighters to arrive on a scene. "Each minute could be a matter of life and death," Dougherty stressed in a statement obtained by Hillsborough County government's newsroom. Indeed, the urgency to swiftly navigate through traffic, as HCFR Captain Mario Pitts told the same source, means the difference between chaos and order must often be delivered in seconds.
The collaborative efforts of HCFR and Hillsborough County's Traffic Management team aimed to address the critical challenge of responding promptly to emergencies in an expanding county landscape. The goal was clear: develop a system that ensures the safety of both residents and emergency vehicle operators, and one that could stand up to the demands of a growing population. The solution they developed is said to have been successfully implemented in over 85% of the county, with more than 600,000 instances of traffic signal preemptions in the last year.
The system prioritizes emergency vehicles at traffic signals, effectively reducing hold-ups and potential confusion among drivers who might otherwise be unsure of how to clear the way. "The true stress of a call starts in the responding emergency vehicles," Pitts explained to Hillsborough County government's newsroom, highlighting the value of the new system's ability to more effectively manage traffic during an emergency.
