A town in New York, US, is planning to install emergency responders to control traffic lights, in an attempt to allow easy and fast access for emergency vehicles.

The technology, which could be implemented in Rockland County, uses a new strobe light installed on a vehicle which flashes a signal to a sensor in the case of an emergency. The cross traffic then receives a red signal, while the emergency vehicle receives a green one.

The technology is expected to remove discrepancies in the present system, where although the emergency vehicles flash lights and start sirens to be given way through the traffic, some distracted drivers fail to respond.

The new system cuts the response time by an average 20%, according to manufacturers, which remained unnamed by US news channel CBS.

The town is now planning a major expansion of similarly equipped intersections, which will cost an estimated $1m for town-wide installation, with a single intersection costing $10,000.