Intelligent Priority — The NetherlandsLive Deployment
Faster, safer emergency response with intelligent traffic light priority
Ambulancezorg Nederland uses Be-Mobile's C-ITS platform to coordinate route-aware priority at intersections and warn drivers when ambulances are approaching.
Project at a glance
Developed with Ambulancezorg Nederland, supporting all ambulances in the Netherlands.
- Challenge
- Reduce delays and improve safety as ambulances approach signalised intersections.
- Approach
- Use live vehicle positions, route information and C-ITS to coordinate priority requests and approaching-ambulance warnings.
- Outcome
- The nationwide service was renewed for another three years after three years of cooperation.
How can ambulances move through signalised traffic without losing critical time?
Ambulances need to move through busy roads and signalised intersections quickly and safely. Each junction on an emergency route must be handled early enough to give the traffic control system time to prepare, while the priority request still has to reflect the route the ambulance will actually take.
That requires more than a single proximity trigger. The system needs reliable live vehicle positions, route information and coordination between the emergency vehicle, the C-ITS platform and the traffic-light infrastructure.
This operational challenge formed the basis of the partnership between Ambulancezorg Nederland and Be-Mobile.
A nationwide Intelligent Priority service for Dutch ambulances
After three years of cooperation, Be-Mobile and Ambulancezorg Nederland extended their partnership for another three years. The agreement secures Be-Mobile's Intelligent Priority service for all ambulances in the Netherlands.
The service uses C-ITS technology to give ambulances absolute priority at intersections. Route-aware functionality allows priority requests to be coordinated across intersections that are reachable within a 90-second horizon, based on live travel time and vehicle speed.
At the heart of the solution is Be-Mobile's C-ITS platform, which processes live vehicle positions, route information and operational metadata at scale to deliver connected priority use cases.
How route-aware priority prepares intersections ahead
Knowing the route helps the platform determine not only whether an ambulance is approaching an intersection, but also which movement it is expected to make and when a priority request should be sent. This gives the traffic control system time to prepare the intersection before the vehicle arrives.
How the priority process works
- 01
Match the vehicle to the road network
Because GPS positions are inherently imprecise, incoming locations are matched to the digital road network and checked for a plausible progression between road segments. For emergency vehicles, the road model can also account for access routes that are not available to ordinary public traffic.
- 02
Follow the planned route or destination
When the vehicle system supplies a planned route, the platform follows that route. When only a destination is available, Be-Mobile's route planner can calculate a route for the priority service.
- 03
Prepare the relevant intersections
The platform uses the route, distance and expected arrival time to determine when priority requests should be sent to the traffic control installations along the route. This supports route-aware green waves across intersections within the operational horizon.
- 04
Adapt when the route changes
When an ambulance deviates from the planned route, the platform adapts the route handling and can fall back to proximity-based priority requests.
How real-time warnings help drivers make way
FlowControl coordinates priority logic for connected traffic-light infrastructure. In parallel, Be-Warned supports early warnings to connected driver channels.
In this project, the service is integrated with Flitsmeister, which alerts drivers in real time when an ambulance is approaching. This extends the connected safety chain beyond intersection priority and helps other road users anticipate the emergency vehicle.
Intelligent Priority in operation across the Netherlands
At the time of publication, a 24-hour operational snapshot showed:
- 295
- Unique ambulances requesting priority
- 466
- Intersections receiving priority requests
- 90seconds
- Operational horizon used to coordinate route-aware green waves
Figures are from the same 24-hour snapshot and are not presented as permanent daily averages.
Technology built for different priority operations
Be-Mobile's Intelligent Priority platform is designed for flexibility and scalability. It integrates with external systems and supports configurable priority flows for different operational needs, from absolute priority for emergency services to conditional optimisation for public transport.
The platform is operational in multiple regions and follows C-ROADS specifications, supporting compatibility across modern traffic-management systems.
“This renewed partnership highlights the trust and collaboration we've built with Ambulancezorg Nederland over the past three years. We're proud to support safer and more efficient emergency responses while continuing to innovate in mobility solutions.”
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