By Bruce Smith
The Indianapolis Star
INDIANAPOLIS — Equipment will be installed in Plainfield police cars to take control of traffic signals during emergency runs.
The devices will let officers hurrying to an accident, a crime or pursuing a criminal take the right of way at key intersections.
The Town Council recently approved spending about $46,000 to equip all 46 Police Department vehicles with Opticom infrared “pre-emption” devices manufactured by 3M.
Emergency vehicles approaching an Opticom-equipped traffic signal will be able to capture and hold the green light as long as needed to get through an intersection.
Traffic in other directions is phased through a yellow and then a red signal and then held temporarily in place.
Vehicles flowing the same direction as a firetruck or police car will have a green light to get out of the way of emergency vehicles.
“This is strictly for emergency response situations, to improve safety and response,” said Police Chief Jeff Mitney.
“We haven’t had a rash of accidents involving (emergency vehicles), but we’re trying to prevent them. We’re trying to be proactive and to protect our citizens and the officers.”
The Fire Department has had the devices since 2003, when it purchased units for about 19 firetrucks, ambulances and other vehicles.
There have been no reported crashes or accidents at intersections equipped to give priority to emergency vehicles.
“The main message I can give is that this equipment improves safety for the public and for our emergency responders,” said Fire Chief Byron Anderson.
Of several manufacturers available, Plainfield purchased the same Opticom system made by 3M that is used in Indianapolis. Plainfield police and fire vehicles and ambulances will be able to pre-empt control of equipped intersections in Indianapolis, too.
For the Fire Department, receiving units were installed in the traffic signals for about 25 key intersections in Plainfield.
New intersections built or reconstructed since then also have been equipped with the devices.
The sending units are mounted on top of firetrucks or behind the grill of the fire chief’s car and other executive staff sedans.
The receiving unit is attached high in the air near the traffic lights.
They communicate with a coded infrared signal unique to each transmitter. “So it is possible to know which emergency vehicle pre-empted the traffic signal,” Anderson said.
Anderson said the transmitters are wired in firetrucks and ambulances to turn on automatically when the red lights and siren are activated for an emergency run. The transmitter goes off when the vehicle gear shift is put in the park position.
However, Mitney said police officers will have manual control of the traffic signal control rather triggering it automatically each time the red lights are activated.
If two vehicles approach an intersection at the same time from opposite directions, Anderson said the first one will capture the traffic light.
“We’re still developing policies, but the (device) would be on only when needed,” Mitney said.
Copyright 2008 The Indianapolis Star