Onboard Traffic Light Control

I've read of a few accidents involving apparatus equiped with traffic light control systems.
One accident involved two fire trucks responding to the same scene.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200443.html
Latest one I've read about:
http://www.turnto10.com/news/7332096/detail.html
http://www.turnto10.com/news/7373455/detail.html

What's the time delay when using these light control systems?
Is it possible that apparatus rate of travel/distance covered needs to be better considered when activating?
Are these accidents solely the fault of the 'other vehicle' running the red light?

It doesn't matter what the timing is (It is quick though). If you are driving a fire truck and just blow through a red light or stop sign and get in an accident, it is your fault, period. You need to make sure the intersection is clear before you just barrel through it like a lunatic. The opticom systems to change traffic lights are great help but they don't mean you can just floor it and forget it.

In our first due area we have had an opticom system for over 20 yrs.

No 2 intersections are the same timing. The quickest are fast as 6 seconds.

All of the intersections have a digital controller and are syncronized.

All of the intersections have pedestrian walk/don't walk lights.

Some have audio signals for the blind,which last longer than those that
don't have the audio.

The Opticom system where I am will not pre-empt the pedestrian signals.

These systems are fully programable. So to answer your question there is a minimum of six seconds and the max.depends on the intersection's complexity and if the pedestrian signal is activated or not.

Other factors are things like large trucks in urban traffic physically blocking the emmitter's strobe from reaching the receiver,the traffic cop who has pulled over someone for a traffic offence and has his "strobe" flashers on.
Some have a frequency that will pre-empt from the west when the FD is heading south or north. and the biggest one is remembering to turn it on.

The driver is always responsible regardless of a pre-emptive system or not.

Don

Quote:

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Originally Posted by don120

Other factors are things like large trucks in urban traffic physically blocking the emmitter's strobe from reaching the receiver,the traffic cop who has pulled over someone for a traffic offence and has his "strobe" flashers on.
Some have a frequency that will pre-empt from the west when the FD is heading south or north. and the biggest one is remembering to turn it on.

The driver is always responsible regardless of a pre-emptive system or not.

Don

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Sounds like too many variables. I wonder if there's any unknown glitches that can pop up and go away.
Probally best to slow or stop at an intersection, depending on light color, than to barrel through on green you actuate or are given.
Not insinuating that the previous mentioned accidents and others were the result of apparatus blasting through on green.

National Study Out on Traffic Signal Preemption
http://cms.firehouse.com/content/art...Id=46&id=47843

Traffic Signal Preemption for Emergency Vehicles: A Cross-Cutting Study
http://www.itsdocs.fhwa.dot.gov//JPO..._TE//14097.htm