With connected vehicles expected to make up 95% of new vehicles sold globally by 2030, connected vehicle technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI) is already transforming our roadways. For firefighters, this means more efficient responses to emergencies and it supports more effective fleet management as AI platforms can predict and provide alerts on road conditions, collisions, and repair needs.

Additionally, AI will enhance communication between vehicles and smart street signals, facilitating more intuitive traffic management. When deployed alongside smart pre-emption systems, AI can help integrate emergency vehicle preemption (EVP) capabilities with departments’ dispatch systems and AI will map out the most efficient route for firefighters and automatically signal the proper lights, supporting safer roads for the community and helps firefighters focus on strategies and tactics. Likewise, as more connected vehicles enter the roads, they can send alerts to each other, like when the car at the front of a traffic lineup needs to brake suddenly with the goal of fewer collisions overall.

Connected vehicles will evolve in the coming years, especially as supportive technologies like AI develop. Claycomb will explore where the industry currently stands, where it’s heading, and what fire departments should start doing now to take advantage of connected vehicle capabilities in the future.