--- title: The Next Decade of Emergency Response Starts at the Intersection description: See how LYT's cloud Emergency Vehicle Preemption system enhances response times for firefighters, ensuring safer and quicker passage through intersections. image: https://lyt.ai/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Urban%20Chaos%20with%20Red%20Fire%20Truck%20and%20Digital%20Traffic%20Control.png --- [Skip to main content](https://lyt.ai/blog/the-next-decade-of-emergency-response-starts-at-the-intersection#main-content) [![LYT.ai](https://lyt.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Headshots/LYTLogo_CommandBlue.png?width=120&height=50&name=LYTLogo_CommandBlue.png) ![LYT.ai](https://lyt.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Headshots/LYTLogo_CommandBlue.png?width=120&height=50&name=LYTLogo_CommandBlue.png) ![LYT.ai](https://lyt.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Headshots/LYTLogo_CommandBlue.png?width=120&height=50&name=LYTLogo_CommandBlue.png) ![LYT.ai](https://lyt.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Headshots/LYTLogo_CommandBlue.png?width=120&height=50&name=LYTLogo_CommandBlue.png)](https://lyt.ai) - [Public Safety](https://lyt.ai/public-safety) - [Transit](https://lyt.ai/transit) - [Success Stories](https://lyt.ai/blog/tag/customer-success-stories) - [Content Hub](https://lyt.ai/blog) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Public Safety](https://lyt.ai/public-safety) - [Transit](https://lyt.ai/transit) - [Success Stories](https://lyt.ai/blog/tag/customer-success-stories) - [Content Hub](https://lyt.ai/blog) - [Login to LYT](https://v2.portal.lyt.ai/login) [Request a Demo](https://lyt.ai/request-a-demo) [Login to LYT](https://v2.portal.lyt.ai/login) [Request a Demo](https://lyt.ai/request-a-demo) [EVP](https://lyt.ai/blog/tag/evp) # The Next Decade of Emergency Response Starts at the Intersection Jul 7, 2026 • 2 min read For firefighters, intersections are often the most unpredictable part of a response. Sirens and lights help clear traffic, but congestion, distracted drivers, and signal timing can still slow apparatus when seconds matter. Many departments adopted emergency vehicle preemption decades ago to help address this challenge. Systems like Opticom allowed approaching vehicles to request a green signal using infrared emitters. That technology improved response when it was introduced. But traffic conditions have changed. Cities are busier, intersections are more complex, and departments respond to more calls. Line-of-sight systems can miss vehicles in dense traffic, poor weather, or when equipment requires maintenance. A new approach to emergency vehicle preemption is now available. LYT’s cloud-based Emergency Vehicle Preemption (EVP) connects fire apparatus and traffic signals using real-time vehicle location data. Instead of relying on emitters or intersection sensors, the system communicates digitally with traffic infrastructure and prepares signals before the vehicle arrives. This allows intersections to clear earlier and more consistently. In Elk Grove, California, the city replaced a legacy infrared system with LYT’s connected vehicle EVP platform across more than 40 intersections. During evaluation, firefighters experienced a **154 percent increase in vehicle speed through intersections**, improving from 24 mph to 37 mph. The system also generated **128 percent more successful preemption events than the previous system**, increasing the number of protected green-light crossings during emergency runs. For fire departments, the benefit is simple: fewer delays at intersections and a safer path through traffic when seconds matter. When signals respond earlier, crews spend less time waiting at red lights and more time getting where they are needed. It helps protect responders and supports faster arrivals when communities depend on it most. Want to learn more about how your city can get started with LYT? [Book a Meeting](https://meetings.hubspot.com/laramie-bowron/public-safety-book-a-meeting) to start the discussion. 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