Irmo, SC 12/16/2024 - To prevent accidents involving emergency vehicles, The Irmo Fire District (IFD) is proud to announce a new highway safety program that they have begun to use. This is a new way to warn drivers that fire apparatus is responding or on the scene of an emergency and motorists need to slow down and move over.
Irmo Fire District's new apparatus is equipped with Safety Cloud® by HAAS Alert. When one of their emergency vehicle's lights and sirens are activated, Safety Cloud automatically sends digital alerts to nearby drivers. Alerts appear directly on in-dash systems in brands including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles, as well as through Waze and Apple Maps mobile applications.
This advance warning, in addition to traditional lights and sirens, has been proven to protect responders and reduce the likelihood of secondary collisions near roadside incidents by up to 90%. These alerts help facilitate adherence to South Carolina Move Over laws and can significantly reduce collision risks.
The leadership of the IFD asks if you receive a warning, please slow down. It means they’re in the roadway ahead of you or approaching you. Distracted driving is dangerous for everyone, and it's easy to get distracted this time of year.
Check out the video to see how much the threat is real. The IFD had their engines struck by inattentive motorists and according to them, it's a terrible experience for everybody. If you aren't driving a vehicle with a compatible warning system installed, you can receive warnings through Waze or Apple Maps on a phone.
