In Marietta, Ga., signal priority technology allows emergency vehicles to shave an average of 10 seconds from each traffic signal, said Rachel Langelotti, city project manager for economic development.
“With most calls involving six to seven traffic signals, this results in a total time savings of over a minute per response, significantly enhancing our ability to reach those in need more quickly,” Langelotti said via email.
Marietta uses the Glance signal priority technology from Applied Information to aid its fire department emergency vehicles. The fire department began using the technology in 2018, giving fire trucks the green light at all signals in Marietta, and at several in Cobb County, officials said.
“When responding to an incident,” said Langelotti, “a Marietta fire truck approaching a signalized intersection activates the Glance system, allowing us to control the intersection.”
“The system will work to clear out intersections ahead based upon the speed of the fire truck, as well as its direction of travel via the turn signal. This prompts whether the emergency vehicle intends to continue straight or turn right or left,” she explained.
The Glance technology by Applied Information is used by 1,450 transportation agencies across North America, per the company. Emergency vehicles using the pre-emption system were given 4.3 million green lights while responding to incidents in 2024, according to company stats, resulting in more than 13,000 hours of travel time saved by emergency vehicles last year. Response times were reduced an average of 18 percent.
The same technology is credited with speeding up travel times for transit vehicles. Applied Information officials point to data showing buses equipped with the Glance Transit Signal Priority system avoided 9 million unscheduled stops at traffic signals.
Similar technology by LYT is, the company said, responsible for more than $1.1 million in 2024 fuel savings by vehicles where the intelligent connected traffic tech is deployed, resulting in 18,511 hours saved for the year by reducing red light wait times for transit buses.
"By significantly reducing wait times, fuel consumption, and emissions, we’re not just improving traffic flow — we’re enhancing the quality of life in urban areas and contributing to a more sustainable future,” said Tim Menard, CEO and founder of LYT, in a statement.
Back in Marietta, city officials indicate the technology — which holds traffic at an intersection to allow the emergency vehicle to move through it — helps to make intersections safer.
“It [Glance technology] eliminates any confusion about where drivers should go when a fire truck approaches with all its lights and sirens activated,” Langelotti said. “When we reach the intersection, our path of travel is already clear.”
The signal priority technology offers but a minor disruption in the overall flow of the transportation network, said Bill Wells, Applied Information’s vice president of communications and strategy.
“Pre-emption means emergency vehicles get through intersections faster and safer, and traffic signal timing returns to normal very quickly,” Wells said.
