South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has become the first ambulance service in Europe to fit digital alerting to its emergency vehicles, so that road users can be alerted to their presence.

SECAmb is testing the system, Safety Cloud by HAAS Alert, which enables real-time alerting between emergency and other vehicles, with the aim of improving road safety.

Alerts are delivered to drivers today through leading navigation apps including Waze and Apple Maps. Soon, alerts will also become available through new compatible vehicles as they come to the market. Drivers can receive the alerts, potentially in advance of seeing or hearing a vehicle’s blue lights and sirens.

SECAmb will turn on the alerts on its vehicles on Monday, 9 December, allowing the notifications to begin being received when its vehicles are responding on blue lights.

As well as improving road safety, the system is also expected to reduce the cost and time associated with repairing damaged vehicles. It is also hoped the alerts will enable ambulances to progress more smoothly through traffic, potentially reducing operational response times and the Trust’s carbon footprint.

The system is being implemented through SECAmb’s existing relationship with ACETECH which provides the Trust with a cloud-based fleet telematics solution.

SECAmb Fleet Services Manager, Rob Martin said: “We are pleased to be trialling this technology in our response vehicles. The alerts, in addition to traditional lights and sirens, will mean motorists able to use the system will be aware of our presence sooner. This extra time not only creates a safer experience for motorists but also our operational crews and patients across the south east.”

For more information on the system visit Safety Cloud® | HAAS Alert