CLEARWATER, Fla. — Every second counts in an emergency.
To save time, Pinellas County rolled out new technology designed to create a safer and faster path for first responders.
Currently, the county is in phase two of a traffic preempt system called Glance, technology that turns traffic lights green for approaching emergency units.
The system in Pinellas County launched in 2025, and 212 fire trucks and ambulances across the county received the Glance device.
Once lights and sirens go off, the device in their units triggers a response in advance. It combines cellular, radio transmission and GPS technology into one.
In the first phase of this program, Pinellas County worked with 272 intersections at major corridors.
Pinellas County EMS Logistics Coordinator Derek Schauer explained this can help avoid intersection crashes and help first-responders arrive even faster.
“Because (the unit’s) so far out and is able to do that 2,000 feet away, or however you set the perimeter, it’s able to help get the traffic that’s currently at that red light, to go ahead and push through,” said Schauer.
Schauer said preliminary data from phase one showed positive results.
“Early data that we’re able to pull right now, we’re looking at probably 20 seconds of saving time per intersection,” Schauer said. “So what Glance helps us do is really save about a minute to two minutes of response time out there for the community.”
Schauer said to get through traffic even quicker, the technology is needed at more intersections. The county is adding another 214 traffic lights.
Results are already coming in.
“A report we got back today showing from over in Clearwater, how we had actually Gulf to Bay lined up, and they were showing about a seven-minute saving (time) based off the traffic that was right there, especially how dense it can get,” Schauer said.
For next steps, Schauer explained the goal is to collect even more data from phase two.
From there, they will look at potentially expanding even more.