Stellantis Emergency Vehicle Response System is Saving Lives

In today’s dynamic and bustling world, road safety remains paramount for all motorists and emergency responders. With the constant evolution of technology, innovative solutions are emerging to mitigate potential hazards on the road. One groundbreaking advancement comes from HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud platform and its pivotal role in powering the Emergency Vehicle Alert System (EVAS) feature integrated into the Uconnect-connected vehicle platform. This innovative technology has shown promising capabilities in averting traffic incidents and ensuring the safety of both motorists and first responders on our roadways.

EVAS, an integral feature of Uconnect in 2018 model year and newer vehicles, exemplifies the commitment of automotive innovators toward prioritizing road safety. With almost 2 million Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, and Jeep® vehicles on the roads in the United States and Canada equipped with EVAS, this system provides in-vehicle notifications to drivers, alerting them to the presence of active emergency vehicles, including fire trucks, ambulances, and other potential roadway hazards.

The core of this groundbreaking safety initiative stems from the seamless integration of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) connectivity. EVAS leverages HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud platform, a robust digital alerting solution used extensively by thousands of North American public and private roadway fleets. This connectivity enables real-time communication between emergency vehicles and equipped vehicles connected to the Safety Cloud, offering drivers crucial alerts well in advance of potential dangers.

The recent incident involving the South Strabane Fire Department serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by emergency responders on our roadways. Despite their critical role in ensuring public safety, these responders encounter considerable risks while attending to incidents, especially in high-speed traffic. In this instance, the accident involving an overturned camper and a pickup truck was exacerbated when an approaching vehicle struck the fire department’s apparatus, resulting in significant damage and potential harm to both responders and civilians.

However, with the deployment of EVAS, equipped vehicles receive timely alerts about nearby emergency vehicles and potential hazards. In scenarios like the one faced by the South Strabane Fire Department, where visibility and awareness of the accident scene were compromised due to high-speed traffic, EVAS could have played a pivotal role in preemptively notifying drivers of the presence of the emergency vehicle, potentially averting the subsequent collision.

Looking ahead, the Hazard Enhanced Location Protocol (H.E.L.P.®) development represents a significant stride in bolstering V2X active driver safety notifications. Emergency Safety Solutions Inc., in collaboration with Stellantis, is pioneering H.E.L.P., which aims to provide advanced warnings to drivers approaching disabled vehicles, a situation that poses considerable risks, particularly in low visibility or adverse weather conditions.

H.E.L.P. operates by transmitting notifications through HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud platform to vehicles equipped with Uconnect or other compatible connected systems, offering drivers crucial information about the location of disabled vehicles. This advanced warning, spanning approximately 15-20 seconds at highway speeds, empowers drivers to take preemptive actions, potentially avoiding collisions and ensuring the safety of all road users.

Moreover, the potential inclusion of H.E.L.P. Lighting Alerts in LED-equipped vehicles holds immense promise in enhancing visibility. By strategically flashing hazard warning lights and exterior lamps, this feature will significantly improve the visual attention of approaching drivers, reducing the likelihood of accidents involving disabled vehicles.