Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are a leading cause of death and injury in the U.S. Vehicle telematics data, which include information such as vehicle description, sensor data and occupant information, play a critical role in saving more lives and expediting emergency response. 

In this episode of RapidSOS Insider, Michael Hirsch from SiriusXM Connected Vehicle and Carla Even from Chula Vista Police Department joined host Jamison Peevyhouse, Director of Public Safety at RapidSOS, to discuss how vehicle telematics data is used by first responders to make life-saving decisions before they even arrive on scene. 

Topics covered in this episode:

• Which types of telematics data can help first responders during an emergency
• The benefits of integrating telematics data into the 911 workflow
• Real-life use cases on when telematics data was used to save lives 

Vehicle telematics data for ECCs better protects communities and speeds up response times, transforming emergency response. Additionally, medical and profile data can help 911 and emergency services safely respond to behavioral health incidents and provide the most appropriate care during emergencies. 

The FCC estimates that around 10,000 lives could be saved every year if first responders could get to an emergency just 1 minute faster.  RapidSOS partners send data through the emergency response data platform to empower faster and more intelligent emergency response, helping first responders save millions of lives each year. 

 

What is telematics data and how does it work?

Telematics uses GPS technology and on-board diagnostics (OBD) delivered by a tracker or other logging tool to plot a vehicle’s movements on a computerized map and collect key performance data such as speed, location, maintenance requirements and servicing. This data can be cross-referenced with the vehicle’s internal behavior and sent to a data center or other destination as needed.

During an emergency SXM-ACN+ can share data through RapidSOS to ECC telecommunicators and first responders, including:

• Vehicle description (make, model, color and VIN)
• Seatbelt sensor information
• Airbag deployment
• Velocity and impact points
• Driver information
• Associated MedicAlert profiles and medical data (from users who have opted in) 

By linking vehicle and crash data from SXM Connected Vehicle ACN+ technology with the RapidSOS emergency response data platform, 911 personnel can be notified quicker and first responders can receive critical information about the nature and severity of the vehicle emergency before arriving at the scene.

 

Telematics and 911 workflows

Integrating telematics data into the 911 workflow can help reduce emergency response times. Sensor information from the vehicle can often provide better location information than a person involved in the accident, since drivers and passengers involved in a collision may be under stress and unable to provide accurate cross-streets or address information. RapidSOS Portal street view provides ECCs “eyes-on” landmarks or other identifying information to help solidify the location of the event. 

Meanwhile, critical sensor data from the vehicle may also impact the type of response dispatched, helping busy ECCs accurately and effectively deploy resources for best outcomes.

Some real-life scenarios in which 911 centers leveraged telematics data in the emergency response process were covered. 

For example, electric vehicles have a different response protocol than those powered by gasoline; hybrid vehicles can be damaged or be subject to a vehicle fire, and fires in electric vehicles burn longer and hotter as they are propelled by lithium-ion batteries. 

The severity of the collision and the number of occupants can also dictate additional medical response. For instance, four vehicle  occupants vs. a single occupant may require two or more ambulances. If a rollover has been detected, air response could be required. A flight might also be needed if it is apparent that a vehicle has gone off the edge of an embankment or cliff and survivors may be difficult to reach. 

As a result, Carla Even, from Chula Vista PD, noted that there has been a 28% call increase from 2018-2020, and using technology and data to balance workload, correct human errors, remove bias and emotion, and get responders on-scene faster is not optional but imperative. 

To learn more about how telematics data for 911 response is being enabled by RapidSOS and partnered companies, view the webinar now. We hope you join us for future RapidSOS Insider episodes.