Goal: To improve emergency vehicle response time by preemptively directing civilian drivers to create a clear path.

The current gridlock and traffic situation in New York City is at a tipping point. This has led to emergency vehicle response times to increase across the five boroughs. The Emergency Vehicle Early Warning System (EVEWS) is designed to alleviate the current pressure of the system and to improve response times, therefore saving lives.  

When an emergency vehicle approaches one of the EVEWS boards, a transponder in the vehicle communicates with a receiver in the board. This triggers the following five boards to light up and clear a path. Civilian drivers will no longer be caught off guard by emergency vehicles only a few car-lengths away. The EVEWS will give civilian drivers ample time to clear a path, reducing the stress for both parties.

An added feature of the EVEWS occurs when an emergency vehicle runs a red light. Civilian drivers who are perpendicular and have the right-of-way will now see the green and yellow light on when an emergency vehicle is one block away. Civilian drivers will now be on the lookout for speeding firetrucks and ambulances, improving safety within the intersection.

Human Factors analysis was conducted to determine the ideal text font, size, and color. FEA analysis due to hurricane caliber forces were conducted. Interviews with emergency personnel in Glasgow and NYC (Lieutenant Thomas Stedina of the NYPD) were conducted. A full technical report and design process journal are included in the links below.

Technical Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N00ui5J0ackm1FtnAweC3Rgxqxxw2Kmk/view?usp=sharing

Design Process Journal: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cUpRBvjLfTEQjMO9PrRz87ZbY5b6NYuY/view?usp=sharing