The Emergency Vehicle Priority (EVP) system, which gives a green light to approaching emergency vehicles fitted with the technology, is now in place at 72 intersections in Cairns and in other parts of the state.
According to a statement from the office of Queensland’s Acting Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety, Steven Miles, emergencies are being responded to quicker in Cairns thanks to the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads- developed technology.
Member for Barron River Craig Crawford, who is a former paramedic, said he was thrilled to see the technology rolled out in the Far North.
“We’ve already seen great results in other areas of Queensland where we’ve rolled it out previously – for example, EVP-equipped vehicles on the Gold Coast are showing travel time reductions by up to 26 per cent,” said Member for Barron River Craig Crawford in the statement.
“The rollout of EVP in Cairns has been carried out in conjunction with emergency services to determine the routes and locations where emergency vehicles would have greatest benefit.”
There are now 39 Cairns Queensland Ambulance Service vehicles equipped with the EVP system, and some of the city’s Queensland Fire and Emergency Services appliances will be fitted out and operational in the coming weeks.
Across the state there are 1917 intersections, 419 ambulances and 94 fire appliances with EVP technology.
Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Rockhampton and Gladstone are next in line as part of the Queensland Government’s $13.5 million investment in the EVP system.