GPS A GO FOR FDNY’S FLEET

All FDNY emergency vehicles including ambulances, will have satellite tracking technology by summer’s end, allowing dispatchers to know their exact locations at every moment. Officials said yesterday.

“This is an extraordinary tool for us” declared FDNY Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta during a news conference with Mayor Bloomberg at Fire Department headquarters yesterday.

“With it, we’ll get to medical emergencies and eventually fire emergencies faster, which, of course, translates into more lives saved.” Scoppetta said.

The city will spend roughly $50 million on the “Automatic Vehicle Location” System.  Older autos in the 1,565-vehicle fleet must be retrofitted, while some newer vehicles need only have the equipment installed.
Last September, as part of a pilot program, the city installed the technology on vehicles on Staten Island and southern Brooklyn.  Under the system, response times for the most serious fell by 33 seconds.

The mayor said the city will consider installing GPS on other city agency vehicles.

reprinted from The Daily News

by Michael Saul