New tech alerts drivers when emergency vehicles are fast approaching

Almost two million cars in North America can now alert drivers when an emergency vehicle is fast approaching, saving first responders valuable time and reducing the risk of a crash with hearing-impaired motorists.

Last week, an over-the-air software update for certain Jeep, Ram, Dodge and Chrysler vehicles in the US and Canada included a new safety feature which notifies drivers to be aware of an approaching emergency vehicle.

Drivers are provided an audible alert and a visual message on their infotainment screen up to 20 seconds before an emergency vehicle approaches from behind with its lights or sirens activated.

The system – developed by HAAS alert – relies on emergency vehicles to have their lights or sirens activated, meaning it will not warn drivers when they are approaching a first responder parked on the side of a road, such as police officers performing radar speed checks.

The feature uses vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication technology to broadcast warnings from an emergency vehicle in any Jeep, Ram, Dodge or Chrysler model built since 2018 and equipped with a ‘Uconnect’ infotainment system.

The US National Safety Council reports 198 people died in crashes involving emergency vehicles in 2021 – about 0.5 per cent of the approximately 43,000 people who died on the nation’s roads across the 12-month period.

In a media statement, Stellantis – the parent company of Chrysler, Jeep and Ram, among others – said the safety feature was suggested in 2021 by a hearing-impaired employee who had a near-miss with an emergency vehicle which she couldn't hear.

The employee’s idea was submitted in an international competition for Stellantis staff members to voice their suggestions for useful car features, which included European workers from its Citroen, Peugeot, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Maserati brands.

While certain Jeep models in Australia are equipped with the Uconnect infotainment system, the emergency vehicle alert feature is not currently available as local first responders do not have the technology to issue such warnings.

According to HAAS Alert, the technology company is currently developing warnings for tow trucks, disabled vehicles, work zones and arrow boards, highway gates which will provide the same alerts to cars fitted with the system.