The priority of emergency vehicles at traffic signals is examined firstly by undertaking a review of overseas experience and then examining the components of the system in victoria. The most significant project reviewed was the northampton fire priority demonstration scheme in the united kingdom. There is some priority to emergency vehicles provided in melbourne at a few isolated sites and these are reviewed together with the legal priority that is given to emergency vehicles. The priority needs of the three main emergency departments of police, ambulance and fire departments are then discussed along with priority options currently available. An examination of accidents involving emergency vehicles at traffic signals for the three year period 1977 to 1979 revealed that the majority of these occurred within 10 km of the melbourne gpo and that a red signal was displayed to the emergency vehicle in a majority of the accidents. It was also noted that the right angle against type accident occurred most frequently (60 per cent) and that while the emergency vehicle at signals is a significant proportion of all ambulance and fire department accidents they are only a small proportion of police accidents. The paper concludes by suggesting that consideration should be given to the provision of priority to emergency vehicles after the linking of signals is accomplished in melbourne. This working paper is based on a thesis submitted in fulfillment on one- eighth of the requirements for the degree of master of engineering science in the department of civil engineering.
Abstract