Jeonbuk Fire Department Expands "Emergency Vehicle Priority Signal Control System"

Emergency Vehicles in Jeonju and Gunsan
Securing the Golden Time for Rescue Operations

On April 24, the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Fire Department announced the full-scale expansion of vehicles equipped with the "Emergency Vehicle Priority Signal Control System" to cover all fire department vehicles under the jurisdiction of Jeonju and Gunsan.

The "Emergency Vehicle Priority Signal Control System" was established as part of the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) project. The system automatically controls traffic signals when fire department vehicles approach intersections during the transport of critical patients, such as those experiencing cardiac arrest, or when responding to fire and rescue scenes. This enables emergency vehicles to secure the golden time for response.

Currently, the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) has been implemented in four cities within the province: Jeonju, Gunsan, Iksan, and Jeongeup. With this expansion, all key response vehicles in Jeonju and Gunsan?including command vehicles, ambulances, and rescue operation vehicles?are now actively utilizing the Emergency Vehicle Priority Signal Control System.

Since 2023, Jeonju has operated the system on a total of seven vehicles, including two command vehicles and five ambulances. With the addition of seven more ambulances and two rescue operation vehicles, the total has now been expanded to sixteen vehicles.

During the same period, Gunsan has operated the system on one command vehicle and fourteen ambulances. With the recent addition of one rescue operation vehicle, a total of sixteen fire department vehicles in Gunsan are now utilizing the system, the same number as in Jeonju.

This expansion was made possible thanks to the active cooperation and administrative support of related agencies, including Jeonju City Hall, Gunsan City Hall, Jeonju Wansan Police Station, Deokjin Police Station, and Gunsan Police Station.

The Jeonbuk Fire Department plans to gradually expand the system throughout the year to include command vehicles, ambulances, and rescue operation vehicles in Iksan and Jeongeup, starting with Jeonju and Gunsan.

Lee Osuk, head of the Jeonbuk Fire Department, stated, "Drivers may feel somewhat confused if signal cycles at certain intersections differ from usual, but this is an unavoidable measure to save precious lives even a moment faster."

He added, "Since the Emergency Vehicle Priority Signal Control System is operated with great caution and only in emergency situations, I ask all residents to understand that this technology is intended to protect life and safety, and to actively cooperate with its implementation."