~~~~EVAS~~~~~~~~EVAS~~~~ EMERGENCY VEHICLE EMERGENCY VEHICLE

ALERT SYSTEM ALERT SYSTEM

Presented by:Presented by:

E-Light, LLCE-Light, LLC

Tom PappasTom Pappas

What is EVAS?What is EVAS?

Traffic control device designed to improve Traffic control device designed to improve traffic safety during emergency vehicle traffic safety during emergency vehicle runs.runs.

Provides advance warning of approaching Provides advance warning of approaching emergency vehicles.emergency vehicles.

Activated by a transmitter from a distance Activated by a transmitter from a distance of 2,500 feet.of 2,500 feet.

Why EVAS?Why EVAS?

In the State of Michigan there were over In the State of Michigan there were over 3000 crashes involving public safety 3000 crashes involving public safety vehicles responding to emergencies in a vehicles responding to emergencies in a four year period (2004 – 2007).four year period (2004 – 2007).Nationwide during this same time period Nationwide during this same time period there were 136 emergency vehicle there were 136 emergency vehicle fatalities.fatalities.Minimize risks faced by emergency Minimize risks faced by emergency vehicles en route to incidents.vehicles en route to incidents.

Cause of Emergency Vehicle Cause of Emergency Vehicle AccidentsAccidents

Failure of non-emergency vehicles to yield Failure of non-emergency vehicles to yield the right-of-way to approaching the right-of-way to approaching emergency vehicles.emergency vehicles.In a recent survey, 82.9% of drivers are In a recent survey, 82.9% of drivers are not able to recognize the approaching not able to recognize the approaching emergency vehicle in time to react emergency vehicle in time to react appropriately.appropriately.Failure to recognize the emergency Failure to recognize the emergency vehicle altogether.vehicle altogether.

EVAS OperationEVAS Operation

Emergency vehicles must be equipped with a Emergency vehicles must be equipped with a transmitter that is activated on demand via a transmitter that is activated on demand via a Department of Defense general control Department of Defense general control frequency.frequency.The transmitter is activated and a signal relayed The transmitter is activated and a signal relayed to a receiver located on the light assembly.to a receiver located on the light assembly.When activated the sign displays an image of a When activated the sign displays an image of a fire truck (MUTCD symbol) which provides a fire truck (MUTCD symbol) which provides a visual warning of approaching emergency visual warning of approaching emergency vehicle.vehicle.

Operation cont.Operation cont.

The display flashes once per second The display flashes once per second (MUTCD specification) until the vehicle (MUTCD specification) until the vehicle clears the intersection.clears the intersection.

The device automatically shuts off after a The device automatically shuts off after a pre-set interval when a drop in the signal pre-set interval when a drop in the signal strength has occurred. strength has occurred.

EVAS Trial and EvaluationEVAS Trial and Evaluation

Wayne State University Transportation Wayne State University Transportation Research Group lead by Dr. Tappan Datta Research Group lead by Dr. Tappan Datta and Dr. Pete Savolainen.and Dr. Pete Savolainen.

Goals of the study:Goals of the study:

1. determine the effectiveness of the alert 1. determine the effectiveness of the alert

systemsystem

2. impact on traffic safety and operations2. impact on traffic safety and operations

Statistical AnalysisStatistical Analysis

Traffic conflicts and “violations” were evaluated Traffic conflicts and “violations” were evaluated as surrogate measures of safetyas surrogate measures of safety

The frequency and proportion of “violations”The frequency and proportion of “violations”

Proportion of yielding vehiclesProportion of yielding vehicles

Time difference between emergency vehicle Time difference between emergency vehicle arrival and time which non-emergency vehicle arrival and time which non-emergency vehicle yield or violate the EVASyield or violate the EVAS

Time required for traffic to restart after the Time required for traffic to restart after the emergency vehicle departed the intersectionemergency vehicle departed the intersection

ResultsResults

As the percentage of vehicles yielding to the As the percentage of vehicles yielding to the emergency vehicle increases, the safety emergency vehicle increases, the safety potential of the intersection increases as wellpotential of the intersection increases as wellWith EVAS the percentage of compliant vehicles With EVAS the percentage of compliant vehicles increased from 74% to 95%increased from 74% to 95%The increased percentage was consistent for The increased percentage was consistent for both through/right turn and left turn movementsboth through/right turn and left turn movementsEVAS was shown to effectively increase the EVAS was shown to effectively increase the proportion of yielding motorists and decrease the proportion of yielding motorists and decrease the proportion of motorists that yielded after crossing proportion of motorists that yielded after crossing the intersectionthe intersection

Results continuedResults continued

If the vehicle does not yield the right-of-way, this If the vehicle does not yield the right-of-way, this action is considered a action is considered a “violation”“violation”If the violation results in the violating driver or If the violation results in the violating driver or the emergency vehicle driver being forced to the emergency vehicle driver being forced to take evasive action this is considered a take evasive action this is considered a “traffic “traffic conflict”conflict”As the number of “violations” and “traffic As the number of “violations” and “traffic conflicts” increase the safety potential of the conflicts” increase the safety potential of the intersections decrease and potential of crash intersections decrease and potential of crash occurrence increasesoccurrence increasesDramatic reduction of violations (0.768 per run Dramatic reduction of violations (0.768 per run vs 0.122 per run with EVAS)vs 0.122 per run with EVAS)

Results continuedResults continued

Time between first yield and the arrival of Time between first yield and the arrival of the emergency vehicle increased from the emergency vehicle increased from 6.54 seconds to 9.44 seconds6.54 seconds to 9.44 secondsWith EVAS drivers tended to resume With EVAS drivers tended to resume moving approximately 6.32 seconds after moving approximately 6.32 seconds after clearance which is a significant clearance which is a significant improvement over the 3.06 second start-improvement over the 3.06 second start-up time prior to installation.up time prior to installation.

Data SummaryData Summary

EVAS was found effective at improving the EVAS was found effective at improving the safety of both the traveling public and safety of both the traveling public and emergency vehicle driversemergency vehicle driversEVAS leads to greater compliance and fewer EVAS leads to greater compliance and fewer violationsviolationsWhen violations did occur, they happened When violations did occur, they happened earlier, mitigating the hazards to both driversearlier, mitigating the hazards to both driversEVAS improved motorist awareness of EVAS improved motorist awareness of approaching emergency vehicles consequently approaching emergency vehicles consequently reducing risks to drivers at intersections during reducing risks to drivers at intersections during incident response incident response

ConclusionConclusion

Firefighters, Police Officers and Firefighters, Police Officers and Paramedics will experience an increased Paramedics will experience an increased level of safety as they are responding to level of safety as they are responding to emergencies when E-Light is present.emergencies when E-Light is present.

E-Light has been a positive improvement E-Light has been a positive improvement in the emergency fieldin the emergency field

Protecting lives is E-Light’s number one Protecting lives is E-Light’s number one prioritypriority

Product SummaryProduct Summary

E-Light conforms to all Federal Highway Administration, E-Light conforms to all Federal Highway Administration, Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and Michigan Department of Transportation specifications.Department of Transportation specifications.Price List of components:Price List of components:

One way device . . . . . . . . . . . .$3650.00One way device . . . . . . . . . . . .$3650.00 Two way device . . . . . . . . . . . .$3950.00Two way device . . . . . . . . . . . .$3950.00 Transmitter installations. . . . . .$350.00/eachTransmitter installations. . . . . .$350.00/each

Installation by Wayne County Road Commission Installation by Wayne County Road Commission $1500.00/ two devices (Check with your county)$1500.00/ two devices (Check with your county)

All transmitters are installed in Police, Fire and Rescue All transmitters are installed in Police, Fire and Rescue vehiclesvehicles

Contact InformationContact Information

ELight, LLCELight, LLC

Tom Pappas, CEO, PresidentTom Pappas, CEO, President

13455 Stamford Court13455 Stamford Court

Livonia, MI 48150Livonia, MI 48150

Phone: 734.523.0600Phone: 734.523.0600

Fax: 734.523.8248Fax: 734.523.8248

www.E-lightLLC.comwww.E-lightLLC.com