Connected road safety has taken a major step forward, with Škoda Auto introducing the HAAS Alert system into its vehicles, warning drivers when emergency vehicles are approaching.
The system, developed by HAAS Alert and powered by its Safety Cloud, is already active in the UK and the Netherlands, with further expansion under way, including Belgium. Every additional connected vehicle strengthens the network and increases the likelihood that drivers receive early warnings when crews are responding on blue lights.
As the first ambulance service in Europe to adopt this technology across our fleet, this milestone is especially significant for us at South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb). It marks the point where an innovation first embraced by emergency services is now being embedded by a mainstream car manufacturer and helping to improve safety on our roads at scale.
When our warning equipment is activated, our ambulances securely transmit real-time location and direction-of-travel data, giving nearby drivers advance notice of ambulance crews approach.
With Škoda integrating Emergency Vehicle Approaching alerts into its Traffication application, those warnings now appear directly on drivers’ infotainment screens. This gives drivers more time to react calmly and safely, helping our crews navigate busy traffic conditions and reach patients as quickly as possible.
Driving Standards Manager at SECAmb, Huw Watts said: "This technology not only supports faster responses, but also enhances the safety of our colleagues, patients and the public. As more manufacturers adopt the system, our journeys become safer and more efficient. Turning early adoption into an industry standard will help create clearer routes through traffic directly supporting our mission to deliver urgent care when every second counts."