Gangneung City Introduces Automatic Traffic Signboard Notification Service for Emergency Vehicle Dispatches Citywide

Real-Time Display of "Emergency Vehicle in Operation" on Destination Route Signboards
First Local Government to Provide Real-Time Notifications Using Urban Information Center Signboards

The emergency vehicle priority signal system, a core service based on the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) that protects the safety of Gangneung citizens, will be further enhanced and operated at a higher level.

Gangneung City Introduces Automatic Traffic Information Board Notification Service for Emergency Vehicle Dispatch Across All Areas. Provided by Gangneung City

On September 3, Gangneung City in Gangwon Province announced the introduction of a service that automatically displays the message "Emergency vehicle in operation" on traffic signboards located along the route to the destination whenever an emergency vehicle priority signal is activated.

The emergency vehicle priority signal system, which has been in operation since 2022, is an ITS system that controls traffic signals to quickly secure the dispatch route when emergency vehicles such as fire trucks or ambulances approach intersections. This system plays a significant role in securing the golden time to save lives by enabling rapid dispatch and transport during emergencies directly related to citizens' lives and safety, such as fires, medical emergencies, and traffic accidents.

As of July 30, the number of emergency vehicle dispatches utilizing the emergency vehicle priority signal system since its implementation has reached a total of 6,915 cases, making a tangible contribution to public safety.

With this improvement, when emergency vehicles such as fire trucks or ambulances are dispatched, the Urban Information Center will calculate the optimal route to the destination in real time and use the traffic signboards along that route to intuitively notify nearby drivers of the emergency vehicle's approach.

Through the traffic signboard notifications, road users can easily recognize the approach of emergency vehicles and changes in signal systems, allowing them to voluntarily yield or detour and thereby minimize traffic disruption. Ensuring the smooth passage of emergency vehicles through citizen cooperation is expected to significantly reduce dispatch times and enhance public safety.

Gangneung City integrates and manages a total of 78 various signboards, including parking guidance signboards, roundabout guidance signboards, road signboards (VMS), and small signboards at smart crosswalks, through the Urban Information Center. Under normal circumstances, these signboards provide information on traffic congestion, available parking spaces, and events, while in cases of disasters or unexpected incidents, they immediately activate route guidance and detour information services to strengthen citizen safety.

Lim Sinhyuk, head of the ITS Promotion Division, stated, "The emergency vehicle priority signal and signboard notification service are core ITS technologies that help citizens easily understand the situation and cooperate. We will continue to utilize advanced transportation infrastructure to create a safe and convenient traffic environment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.