Concerned about an increase in roadside incidents involving first responders, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) challenged companies to come up with research-based solutions. Read on to find out about one winning project that could save the lives of responders as well as civilians.
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According to the DHS, “Law enforcement officers, firefighters, and paramedics are exposed to increasingly dangerous drivers while responding to roadside incidents.” The department cites examples like a crash in Baltimore in June where a driver playing Pokémon GO® slammed a car into a parked police vehicle. In July, an Ohio state trooper was hit directly by a vehicle and thrown in the air.
“Whether distracted by the latest cell phone game, driving while intoxicated, driving carelessly, or in low-visibility scenarios, this trend of first responder roadside strikes unfortunately looks likely to continue,” says DHS. The agency’s First Responder Group (FRG) has awarded a project to Applied Research Associates, Inc., of Albuquerque to develop technology that aims to reduce dangerous vehicle strikes on first responders.
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