Emergency vehicles to get priority in Mackay

Published Tuesday, 25 October, 2016 at 12:30 PM

Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Emergency services vehicles in Mackay will reach their destinations faster thanks to award-winning traffic technology switched on by the Palaszczuk Government this month.

Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said the Emergency Vehicle Priority (EVP) system was congestion-busting technology that gave fire trucks and ambulances priority when responding to emergencies.

“The time it could save ambulance and firefighting vehicles arriving at the scene of an emergency could be the difference between life and death,” Mr Bailey said. 

“My department has been working hard with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) and Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) to have Mackay up and running with this internationally award-winning technology.”

Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said across Mackay there is currently 45 intersections and 35 QAS vehicles equipped and running with EVP technology.

“The EVP system provides a green traffic signal to approaching emergency vehicles fitted with the technology when safe to do so,” Ms Gilbert said.

“We’re working on having QFES trucks fitted out and operational in the coming weeks.

“The rollout of EVP in Mackay has been carried out in conjunction with emergency services to determine the routes and locations where emergency vehicles would have greatest benefit.”

Minister Bailey said we’ve already seen great results in other areas in Queensland where we’ve rolled it out previously.

“For example, EVP-equipped vehicles on the Gold Coast showing travel time reductions by up to 26 per cent,” Mr Bailey said.

“The technology is currently fitted out across intersections in South East Queensland, Townsville, Bundaberg and now Mackay.

“Toowoomba, Cairns, Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Rockhampton and Gladstone are next in line as part of the State Government’s $13.5M investment in this technology.

“Across Queensland there is currently 1550 intersections, 312 ambulances and 70 fire appliances with EVP.”

The TMR developed technology has won several awards, including:

  • In October 2015 at the International ITS Congress held in Bordeaux, France, the EVP system won the Hall of Fame award in the Local Government category.
  • 2016 Australian Road Safety Awards – State Government Initiatives, and Founder’s award for Outstanding Achievement.
  • In November 2014, the EVP Project also won the ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) Australia Government category award for the successful Emergency Vehicle Priority implementation in Samford Road, Brisbane

Minister Bailey made the announcement while in Mackay for DestinationQ following the Palaszczuk Government's Whitsundays Community Cabinet.

ENDS

Media contact:

Minister Bailey’s office – 0428 079 640

Julieanne Gilbert’s office – 4957 8422