To enhance road safety and protect first responders, Leland Township Fire and Rescue is now integrating HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud digital alerting into their main responding fire apparatus. This collision prevention service enables the delivery of real-time alerts to Michigan drivers when emergency services are active in the vicinity. Safety Cloud boosts driver compliance with Move Over laws by dispatching realtime notifications when first responders are en route or onscene. This digital solution effectively enhances lightbars and sirens with additional invehicle notification, thereby minimizing Leland Township Fire & Rescue the likelihood of collisions with first responders.
Safety Cloud’s digital alerting delivers immediate warnings to drivers of the proximity of emergency vehicles or road workers. This preemptive measure has been proven to significantly reduce collision risks by up to 90%, safeguarding both first responders and the motoring public.
Despite Michigan’s Move Over laws necessitating drivers to decelerate and change lanes when approaching active emergency vehicles, delayed or noncompliant reactions persist. Safety Cloud addresses this issue by providing up to 30 seconds of preemptive warning, facilitating safer responses.
The alerts are accessible via the Waze navigation app and Apple Maps, compatible with mobile devices and integrated into the dashboard of many modern vehicles. Safety Cloud alerts are also available on the infotainment screens of millions of vehicles, specifically 2018 and newer models of Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, and Dodge through the EVAS (Emergency Vehicle Alert System) feature. HAAS Alert is actively working on broadening the alerts to more platforms and vehicles.
“Adopting Safety Cloud adds a layer of protection for our firefi ghters, facilitating their operations with enhanced safety,” expressed Fire Chief Dan Besson. “By providing drivers with additional time to respond appropriately, this service establishes a safer environment for both our crew and surrounding motorists. We strongly recommend drivers to utilize Waze and Apple Maps, both free-touse apps, to benefit from these vital road safety alerts.”
“According to the vendor (HAAS) we are the first department in the region to have this system installed in multiple department vehicles – joining Leelanau Township, Grand Traverse Metro, and Traverse City fire departments who each have the system in one of their vehicles – we are proud of our commitment to safety, for both the traveling public and our personnel, and our efforts to reduce our risk” Besson adds. “This system has been, or is in the process of being installed, in Engine 511, Engine 512, Ladder 531, our advanced life support ambulances Alpha 591 and Alpha 593, as well as in my assigned vehicle. The work was performed by Radio North in Traverse City. Additionally, the dashboard also allows us to track those units via GPS, when they are in service, and monitor the number of alerts that have been broadcasted to approaching motorists allowing us to see the positive impact this system has when it comes to roadway safety.”
For more information about HAAS Alert, visit www.haasalert. com.
