This article helps to differentiate digital alerts from traditional lights and sirens found in emergency vehicles.
Lights and sirens (L/S) rely on drivers having full visibility and unimpeded hearing to alert drivers in time adequately. Quieter car cabins, busier roads, and more driver distractions make L/S less effective today, and studies show that drivers have less than 3 seconds on average to react safely before a collision.
Digital alerts use modern technology to extend the reach and efficacy of L/S by sending advance warnings to drivers through the navigation or in-vehicle systems they’re already using in real-time with as much as 30 seconds of advance notice. This gives drivers more time to slow down, move over, and make safer decisions.