Carlow fire service first in Ireland to use emergency alert technology

Carlow has become the first county in Ireland to implement a new technology to protect motorists during emergency incidents.

The county’s Fire and Rescue Service has installed digital alerting in eight of its emergency service vehicles.

Safety Cloud digital alerting warns other road users of the presence of a fire appliance responding to an emergency or when road users are approaching an accident scene.

This is said to provide emergency vehicles with safer and quicker passage to emergencies and gives other road users time to slow down, move over or avoid the scene completely by taking an alternative route.

The alert system is compatible with the Apple Maps and Waze apps and in-built software across a number of vehicle brands and appears in the form of a text and symbol notification.

HAAS Alert, the technology developers, expanded Safety Cloud’s coverage to Europe in November 2023, and this marks the first time the service has been implemented in Ireland.

“Drivers can be easily distracted, and this new software will give them advance notice of their proximity to an emergency vehicle or scene,” said Ben Woodhouse, acting chief fire officer of Carlow County Fire and Rescue Service.

“Our emergency drivers are highly trained in line with the RSA’s Emergency Service Driving Standard and use traditional alerting methods – such as blue lights and sirens – alongside this new technology.

“This means drivers will have a longer response time to react and adjust to any changes to their commute or new road hazards.

“The aim is that this technology will result in a safer community by protecting emergency vehicle drivers and ordinary road users alike.”