DHS targets emergency responder collision prevention

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials said the agency is partnering with a firm to develop technology designed to prevent emergency responder collisions.

Chicago-based HAAS Alert is standardizing C-V2X cellular vehicle-to-everything technology enabling emergency response vehicles to send real-time digital alerts to supplement lights and sirens.

“S&T’s partnership with HAAS Alert helps them enhance their existing technology and enables them to work with first responders,” DHS S&T Program Manager Angela Ervin said. “Through this ongoing collaboration, they are able to customize their products to most effectively improve safety.”

The technology involved HAAS Alert’s HA-5 device connecting directly to any existing lightbar on first responder vehicles. When emergency vehicles are traveling to or arrive at an emergency site, the device automatically sends information in real-time to HAAS Alert’s SafetyCloud, which delivers early alerts to nearby drivers.

“HAAS Alert will increase safety for first responders by significantly lengthening the amount of alerting time that drivers receive prior to our approach,” Steve Birnbaum, a firefighter for the Rockville (Maryland) Fire Department, said. “Before devices like HAAS Alert’s HA-5, lightbars and sirens would give surrounding drivers two to three seconds to react before they saw us. With HAAS Alert’s technology and system, we will be able to give drivers well over 20 seconds to react before we are even in close proximity. This will be very helpful in terms of giving them more time to yield to us or find an alternative route.”