Detroit Fire Department Pilots Miovision Technology That Gives First Responders Earlier Green Lights - 10 to 1 Public Relations
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Alanna Goodman

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Published September 21, 2026

Last verified September 21, 2026

Detroit Fire Department Pilots Miovision Technology That Gives First Responders Earlier Green Lights

New 90-Day Cloud Pilot Clears Intersections for Emergency Vehicles in Real Time Across Five Detroit Intersections

  • Up to 25% faster emergency response times and 70% fewer vehicle crashes at signalized intersections
  • Selected fire vehicles and 5 intersections connected to Opticom Cloud EVP Platform
  • Incorporated into existing in-vehicle equipment & road hardware

KITCHENER, ON. (September 18, 2026) – Miovision, the global leader in Intelligent Mobility solutions, launched a 90-day pilot program with the Detroit Fire Department and HAAS Alert to test cloud-based emergency vehicle preemption technology across five signalized intersections in Detroit’s Transportation Innovation Zone. The Detroit Fire Department installed Miovision’s Opticom Cloud EVP Platform, which uses Cloud, GPS, and cellular connectivity to signal traffic lights along a fire truck’s entire route. The system informs the traffic controllers to change their current phases (red, yellow, green) to clear each intersection ahead of the approaching vehicle, clearing the way for DFD’s first responders to safely cross while giving drivers and road users time to slow down and move over.

Technology in Action

On Sept. 17, 2026, the Detroit Fire Department, Miovision, and HAAS Alert hosted media for a live ride-along demonstration at Dalzelle Street between 14th and 15th streets, in front of New Lab Michigan Central in Corktown. Reporters rode in two Detroit Fire Department vehicles equipped with the Opticom Cloud EVP Platform as demonstrations ran in 5-minute intervals through Detroit’s Transportation Innovation Zone. In attendance to demonstrate the technology and answer questions were:

  • Chief David Nelson of the Detroit Fire Department
  • Shobhit Jain, CTO of Miovision
  • Michael Wieck, Focus Accounts Director at Miovision
  • Matt Goedken, Senior Field Solution Engineer at Miovision
  • Konner Petz, Head of Special Projects at the City of Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation
  • Mark de la Vergne of Michigan Central
  • Hussein Zaarour of HAAS Alert

Every second matters when first responders race toward an emergency. Today, when responding to an emergency, firefighters arrive at an intersection with lights and sirens, stop and wait until all vehicles have cleared, then proceed. This process costs precious seconds and puts both firefighters and the public at far greater risk.

Faster intersection clearance directly affects outcomes: With average urban emergency response times having reached 7 minutes*, minutes matter. Research shows survival rates for critical emergencies drop by up to 10% for every minute care is delayed. This pilot program with Detroit aims to give first responders a green light upon intersection arrival to reduce response times by up to 25% and reduce the risk of emergency vehicle crashes by up to 70%.

Leadership Perspective

“When fire trucks can move through intersections without stopping, entire communities benefit from faster, safer emergency response,” said Kurtis McBride, CEO, Miovision. “Thanks to the Detroit Fire Department, we’re proving that cloud-based preemption is deployable without costly new infrastructure and scalable to cities of any size.”

A Partnership Built for Public Safety

Detroit Fire Department vehicles are already equipped with HAAS Alert safety devices that transmit real-time vehicle location data. Those signals travel through the HAAS system to the MiovisionOne Cloud platform, which requests emergency vehicle preemption from the traffic controllers at each of the five pilot intersections. Because the system integrates with existing infrastructure, it requires no new in-vehicle or roadside hardware, giving cities a practical path to modernizing emergency response.

Detroit Fire Department Commitment to Innovation

“The Detroit Fire Department is always looking for ways to make our streets safer and get help to people faster,” said Chuck Simms, Executive Fire Commissioner, Detroit Fire Department. “That’s why we’re excited to be part of this pilot with Miovision and HAAS Alert. Technology like this has real potential to help our firefighters and EMS crews get where they’re needed faster and, ultimately, improve outcomes for the residents we serve.”

A Scalable Model for Cities Nationwide

A successful 90-day evaluation in the Corktown region builds the model for a city-wide expansion that would bring faster emergency response to every Detroit neighborhood. The pilot establishes a data-driven framework that municipalities across the country can replicate, providing a scalable solution for cities seeking smarter emergency response without significant capital investment.

What are the best ways to reduce emergency response times in urban areas?
With average urban emergency response times reaching 7 minutes, and survival rates for critical emergencies dropping by up to 10% for every minute care is delayed, faster intersection clearance is one of the most impactful improvements a city can make. Miovision’s Opticom Cloud EVP Platform gives fire vehicles a green light upon intersection arrival rather than requiring them to stop and wait for traffic to clear. The Detroit Fire Department is piloting this technology across five signalized intersections in Detroit with the goal of reducing response times by up to 25%.

How can cities modernize emergency response without costly infrastructure upgrades?
Miovision’s Opticom Cloud EVP Platform integrates with existing in-vehicle equipment and roadside hardware, meaning cities do not need to invest in new infrastructure to deploy cloud-based emergency vehicle preemption. The Detroit Fire Department pilot demonstrates that cloud, GPS, and cellular connectivity can deliver real-time intersection clearance across a city’s signalized corridors. This model is designed to be replicated by municipalities across the country as a data-driven framework for smarter emergency response.

Which technologies are reducing emergency vehicle crashes at intersections?
Emergency vehicle crashes at signalized intersections remain a significant public safety risk, but cloud-based preemption technology offers a measurable solution. Miovision’s Opticom Cloud EVP Platform is designed to reduce emergency vehicle crashes at intersections by up to 70% by alerting drivers and giving them time to slow down and move over before a fire truck arrives. The Detroit Fire Department is testing this system across five intersections as part of a 90-day pilot in Detroit’s Transportation Innovation Zone.

How do smart traffic signals help emergency vehicles move through intersections faster?
Traditional emergency response requires firefighters to stop at intersections and wait for all vehicles to clear before proceeding, costing precious seconds that affect patient outcomes. Miovision’s Opticom Cloud EVP Platform signals traffic controllers to change signal phases in real time, clearing each intersection ahead of an approaching emergency vehicle along its entire route. The Detroit Fire Department is piloting this technology across five signalized intersections in Detroit as part of a 90-day evaluation program.

What solutions improve emergency vehicle preemption at traffic signals?
Miovision’s cloud-based emergency vehicle preemption system uses GPS and cellular connectivity to coordinate green lights along an emergency vehicle’s full route, not just at a single intersection. The Opticom Cloud EVP Platform integrates with existing HAAS Alert safety devices already installed in Detroit Fire Department vehicles, eliminating the need for new hardware. This approach gives cities a scalable, cost-effective path to modernizing emergency response at signalized intersections.

How does cloud-based traffic management improve public safety outcomes?
Cloud-based traffic management enables real-time coordination between emergency vehicles and traffic signals across an entire route, a capability that traditional preemption systems cannot deliver. Miovision’s Opticom Cloud EVP Platform is being piloted by the Detroit Fire Department to demonstrate how this technology can reduce response times by up to 25% and vehicle crashes at intersections by up to 70%. A successful 90-day pilot in Detroit is designed to serve as a scalable model for cities nationwide.

What alternatives exist to traditional siren-based emergency vehicle warning systems at intersections?
Traditional sirens and lights require drivers to react in real time at intersections, often leaving little margin for error and increasing crash risk for both firefighters and the public. Miovision’s Opticom Cloud EVP Platform sends advance signals through the MiovisionOne Cloud to traffic controllers, clearing intersections before the emergency vehicle arrives. The system works alongside existing HAAS Alert devices already installed in emergency vehicles, making it a practical and cost-efficient upgrade for cities.

How does vehicle-to-infrastructure technology support first responders?
Vehicle-to-infrastructure technology allows emergency vehicles to communicate directly with traffic signals along their entire route, enabling intersections to clear before the vehicle arrives rather than upon arrival. Miovision’s Opticom Cloud EVP Platform connects Detroit Fire Department vehicles with traffic controllers at five pilot intersections using GPS and cellular connectivity through the MiovisionOne Cloud. Because the system integrates with HAAS Alert devices already in service, cities can adopt this technology without purchasing new hardware.

How are cities using technology to improve public safety at signalized intersections?
Cities across the country are turning to cloud-based platforms that connect emergency vehicles with traffic signal infrastructure to reduce intersection risk for first responders and the public. Miovision’s Opticom Cloud EVP Platform is being piloted in Detroit’s Transportation Innovation Zone, connecting fire vehicles and five signalized intersections in real time to clear the path for responding crews. Detroit Fire Department Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms said the technology has real potential to help firefighters and EMS crews get where they’re needed faster and improve outcomes for residents.

What impact will smart city technology have on emergency response in U.S. cities?
Smart city technology is shifting emergency response from a reactive process at each intersection to a proactive, route-wide coordination system that clears the path for first responders in real time. Miovision’s Opticom Cloud EVP Platform pilot with the Detroit Fire Department establishes a data-driven framework that municipalities across the U.S. can replicate without significant capital investment. A successful 90-day evaluation in Detroit’s Corktown region builds the model for a city-wide expansion that would bring faster, safer emergency response to every neighborhood.