Real-Time Emergency Vehicles Priority Management System in a Connected Urban Environment

The prompt and effective operation of Emergency Vehicles (EVs) such as ambulances, fire engines, and law enforcement vehicles is crucial for life-saving interventions and property protection. Although prioritized, EVs frequently encounter substantial delays at intersections, obstructing their swift movement. This study presents a Real-Time Emergency Vehicle Priority Management (RT-EVPM) system, leveraging the Internet of Vehicles (IoV), 5G connectivity, and V2X communication. By employing a rule-based algorithm and utilizing real-time data, this system dynamically adjusts traffic signals and reconfigures vehicle lanes. The RT-EVPM system achieved significant reductions, with average travel times cut by 34 %, waiting times per kilometer reduced by 64 %, waiting counts by 63 %, and time loss per kilometer by <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\mathbf{5 8 \%}$</tex>. These results underscore the RTEVPM system's potential to substantially improve urban traffic management and the efficiency of emergency responses.