The Falls Township Police Department was recognized recently for implementing innovative technology to help improve the safety and risk to employees through the HAAS Safety Alert System. Police Chief Nelson Whitney, along with members of the police department were presented with an award from Mike Pacana of Delaware Valley Trust. The program was funded by Waste Management.
As part of the initiative, drivers in Falls Township can now receive real-time digital alerts when law enforcement vehicles are active nearby through a new service equipped on Falls Township Police Department vehicles. Safety Cloud by HAAS Alert protects first responders and roadway fleets and improves driver compliance with Move Over laws by sending real-time notifications to drivers approaching active responders en-route or on-scene.
The service reduces the risk of drivers colliding with responders and workers in the field and improves awareness for all drivers by adding a digital component to lights and sirens. Drivers can receive the alerts through the Waze navigation app, available on mobile devices and in the dashboard of many newer-model vehicles. Recently HAAS Alert Safety Cloud has expanded to more than 4 million vehicles through a partnership with global automaker Stellantis. Drivers of 2018 and newer models of Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Alfa Romeo vehicles will be equipped to receive Safety Cloud alerts through the new EVAS (Emergency Vehicle Alert System) feature.
Even though Pennsylvania’s Move Over laws require drivers to slow down and move one lane over when approaching active emergency vehicles, many drivers still react slowly or fail to move over. Safety Cloud alerts give drivers up to 30 seconds of advance warning to help solve this problem.
“We’re excited to add another level of protection for our officers in order to make sure they are able to do their jobs as safely as possible,” said Whitney. "This service connects and protects our officers in the field and the drivers around them by giving motorists extra time to see us, slow down, and move over safely. Waze is a free-to-use app, so we encourage drivers to get advanced warning of our presence when we’re actively responding.”
