Ford trials connected technology that can warn motorists of approaching emergency vehicles

Taking the guesswork out of getting out of the way. Ford Europe has developed new technology that can send a signal from an emergency services vehicle to other nearby vehicles on the road so that drivers will know exactly where the siren is coming from, and how far away it is.

The technology could potentially be life-saving as it could help ambulances, fire engines and police cars reach destinations more quickly.

It may be a great invention as in 2015 alone in the UK, there were 475 road accidents involving emergency services vehicles. The technology could also prevent accidents in Ireland between emergency vehicles and other road users.

The supervisor at Automated Driving Europe, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering, Christian Ress said:

“Time is precious for emergency services and this technology could help to shave valuable seconds off their journeys by enabling drivers to avoid being an obstruction,”

Ford demonstrated its Emergency Vehicle Warning technology at the UK Autodrive event, which is a £20 million government-sponsored trial of connected cars supported by 16 technology and automotive businesses, local authorities and academic institutions.

Ford is also developing other technology for their cars that can alert drivers to potential dangers when they are approaching a crossroads. Known as Intersection Collision Warning, the vehicle broadcasts its location to nearby vehicles which, if equipped with the same collision warning technology, it will then calculate the risk of a crash.

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Justin Kavanagh
Justin Kavanagh is a recognised leader in automotive intelligence and vehicle data supply to the entire motor industry. He has almost 20 years experience in building systems from the ground up. As the Managing Director of Vehicle Management System, he understands the need and importance of trustworthy and reliable vehicle history and advice to both the trade and the public.
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