Green corridors for ‘SMART’ ambulances in Gujarat

AHMEDABAD: All ambulances in Gujarat will soon be fitted with digital sensors in order to make ‘green corridors’ for ambulances rushing patients to the hospitals. This has been done keeping in mind the fact that ambulances getting stuck in traffic jams are a rather common sight and lead to a number of deaths.

The Government of Gujarat has therefore, decided to fit all ambulances with GPS systems, infrared sensors and wireless sensors. These devices will transmit information about an incoming ambulance to the receptors fitted in the ‘smart’ traffic lights, 300 metres before they reach the signal. This will direct the signals to turn green along the route of the ambulance thereby reducing the time they take to reach hospitals. Sound sensors at traffic junctions will also detect the frequency of the sirens blown by incoming ambulances. The data flow between the vehicle’s gadget system and the intelligent traffic lights will automatically create the green corridor.

The sensors are now being tested for their smooth functioning at different vehicle speeds. A senior official of the state transport department said that they department is performing about 42 test runs of ambulances fitted with smart devices every day.