Believe it or not, the most dangerous part of a firefighter's job is driving to the fire. More firefighters died getting to and from emergencies last year than fighting fires.
Nashville Fire Department spokesperson W. J. Curran said, "Traffic accidents are really a major risk - our #1 problem."
Vehicle accidents have hurt Nashville firefighters, but the department says that none have been killed. Now Metro leaders believe they have a solution. They want to put a device on emergency vehicles that will change traffic lights when they rush to a scene. Emergency teams would press a button on the device, and the light would go from red to green. It would save them time and could save your life.
"Everything we do is response time, response time, response time," said Curran. "We have to get you good help fast, but they have to get there safely in order to be of any benefit to you."
Metro's Public Works is setting up the system. They say it will save lives and make emergencies less of a traffic headache.
Metro Public Works spokesperson Bob Weithofer said, "It should save the citizens accidents, and it should save them travel time, because we think we can clear the intersection quicker with this type of responsive system."
Nashville firefighters are giving the project the green light. Ambulances, some police vehicles and even MTA buses would also have access to the device that changes the traffic lights. Metro Public Works hopes to activate the system in early-2006.
