Something new in your car in the Netherlands: emergency vehicle warnings

The Netherlands is set to become the first European country where your car or navigation system will warn you of an approaching emergency vehicle. Over the next three years, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management will collaborate with six other stakeholders to provide motorised traffic with more and better safety warnings.

Dutch Minister Harbers says: ‘98% of motorists now use digital information while driving. In addition, pilots and projects show that providing warnings whilst driving has a positive effect on road safety.’

Users of ANWB, Flitsmeister (part of Be-Mobile), Hyundai, Inrix, Kia or TomTom will soon notice something new: their car or app will provide a warning if a vehicle with flashing lights and sirens approaches. Initially, this will be introduced for ambulances. It is planned to include other types of vehicles later in the year.

In addition, drivers will be warned when they approach unexpected and potentially dangerous situations, such as:

• Wrong-way drivers
• Traffic jam tail ends
• Obstacles on the road
• Roadworks
• An accident
• (Temporary) slippery road
• Exceptional weather conditions, such as a heavy hail shower
• Closed lanes (‘red crosses’)
• Road inspectors or other emergency and rescue vehicles along the road

In due course, it will be examined whether it is possible to include travel advice provided by navigation systems that take into account possible unsafe traffic situations, for example to avoid school zones.