Innovative Emergency Driver Alert unveiled by Carlow County’s Fire and Rescue Service

Carlow County’s Fire and Rescue Service has become the first in Ireland to 
implement a new technology to protect motorists during emergency incidents, 
installing digital alerting in eight of its emergency service vehicles.  
Safety Cloud digital alerting warns other road users of the presence of a fire 
appliance responding to an emergency or when road users are approaching an 
accident scene. 
This provides emergency vehicles with safer and quicker passage to emergencies and 
gives other road users time to slow down, move over or avoid the scene completely by 
taking an alternative route. 
The alert system is compatible with the Apple Maps and Waze apps and in-built 
software across a number of vehicle brands and appears in the form of a text and 
symbol notification. 
Ben Woodhouse, Acting Chief Fire Officer of Carlow County Fire and Rescue Service 
commented, “Drivers can be easily distracted, and this new software will give them 
advance notice of their proximity to an emergency vehicle or scene. Our emergency 
drivers are highly trained in line with the RSA’s Emergency Service Driving Standard 
and use traditional alerting methods - such as blue lights and sirens - alongside this 
new technology. 
“This means drivers will have a longer response time to react and adjust to any 
changes to their commute or new road hazards. 
“The aim is that this technology will result in a safer community by protecting 
emergency vehicle drivers and ordinary road users alike.” 
HAAS Alert, the technology developers, expanded Safety Cloud’s coverage to Europe 
in November 2023, and this marks the first time the service has been implemented 
in Ireland.   
Green Machine 
Last year, Carlow County Fire and Rescue Service collaborated with HPMP Ltd, 
Tullow and Acetech Global, Tullamore, to design and deliver the greenest fire 
appliance in Ireland.  
The vehicle features solar panels and runs on HVO, a green fuel that it is 
manufactured from renewable waste food oils, is biodegradable and can reduce 
emissions by up to 90 per cent. 
Vehicle -to-Vehicle 
This ECO class fire appliance was the first to incorporate the vehicle-to-vehicle real 
time alerting software. 

“Since its launch last August, emergency drivers have noted a positive response to 
the alerting system,’’ said Mr Woodhouse. 
“We will run a pilot for one year with eight fire service vehicles and - if it is successful 
- we will incorporate this software into our entire fleet.” 
HPMP Ltd will install the technology into five Carlow fire engines, two jeeps and one 
emergency tender.  
“HAAS Alert is thrilled to welcome Carlow County Fire and Rescue Service to the 
Safety Cloud network,” added Gareth Evans, European Director of Strategy and 
Business Development of HAAS Alert. 
“We are discussing digital alerting with several emergency services and road safety 
organisations in Ireland and having Carlow as the leading service is a great showcase 
of their approach to innovation and safety.”