Traffic Lights In Rock Rapids To Change To Green For Approaching Emergency Vehicles

Rock Rapids, Iowa — When an emergency vehicle responding to an emergency comes to an intersection, there’s always the potential for an accident, especially if the vehicle encounters a red light. A new system being installed in Rock Rapids this week aims to make that situation a little safer.

The concept of traffic lights that can be changed by an emergency vehicle is not especially new. Some traffic light systems use vehicle-mounted strobe lights, set to a specific pattern to trigger the traffic light change.

But Rock Rapids City Administrator Jordan Kordahl says the system being installed in Rock Rapids does not work that way. He says what is being installed in downtown Rock Rapids, and will also be installed at the other traffic signal at the junction of Highways 75 and 9, is Emergency Traffic Signal Override. Kordahl says, “This is a sound-activated system that allows for emergency vehicles to avoid red lights.”

Kordahl tells us the system will allow an emergency vehicle approaching either of those intersections to change the signal to a constant green for the emergency vehicle, and to red for traffic approaching from the other three directions until the vehicle has passed. He says that unlike older systems, which involved sending a light signal from the vehicle, this newer system utilizes sound-based technology that detects the siren of an oncoming vehicle.

He says that the new sound-based system is simpler, more reliable, and less expensive.

According to Kordahl, each intersection will also have a visual indicator light so the responding emergency vehicle’s driver will know the system is functioning as intended.

He says while this will be advantageous for Rock Rapids and Lyon County emergency responders, because it relies upon hearing a siren and not a specialized strobe light, it will also be able to be used by responders from outside the area. Since ambulances from many northwest Iowa communities go through Rock Rapids on their way to Sioux Falls hospitals, it will provide a measure of safety for them as well.

Kordahl tells us the project is being funded jointly by the Lyon County Riverboat Foundation, The County of Lyon and the City of Rock Rapids. The Riverboat grant was for nearly $29,000. The total projected cost is nearly $40,000.

KIWA Staff Photo

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