Hull Installs Smart Traffic Technology to Boost Fire Response Hull 2026

Key Points

• Hull City Council has fitted a new traffic camera system at the junction of Rosmead Street and Southcoates Lane in East Hull.
• The system connects to existing traffic signals, turning them to a “ready state” when crews leave the nearby East Hull fire station on emergency calls.
• Transport technology company SWARCO developed the system, which received funding from the Department for Transport’s Green Light Fund.
• The camera only turns on during emergency call-outs to spot authorized response vehicles and does not track general traffic or collect driver data for law enforcement.
• Council officials said the installation forms part of ongoing efforts to improve road safety and traffic flow across Hull.

HULL (Birmingham Express) October 20, 2026 — Hull City Council has officially introduced a pioneering intelligent traffic camera system at the key junction of Rosmead Street and Southcoates Lane to accelerate emergency response operations for local firefighters.

The bespoke installation, credited as the first camera of its precise operational design in the city, works directly alongside the existing WigWag traffic signal network.

When emergency crews at the East Hull fire station are dispatched to an incident, the smart system immediately recognizes the approaching appliance and primes the junction traffic lights into a “ready state,” ensuring an unimpeded passage onto the main carriageway.

How Does the New Smart Traffic Camera Support Local Emergency Operations?

As reported by official communications from Hull City Council, the new camera system uses advanced image processing and vehicle recognition technology designed explicitly to interface with local highway infrastructure.

Traditional emergency light preemptions often rely on fixed timers or manual triggers that can leave delays if traffic queues accumulate along Southcoates Lane.

By automatically detecting emergency vehicles in real time as they exit the Rosmead Street station, the SWARCO-developed system reduces critical seconds off turnout times during urgent call-outs.

“The new smart traffic camera at the junction of Rosmead Street and Southcoates Lane, installed in partnership with SWARCO, will help firefighters exit the station safely and efficiently, reducing delays and supporting emergency responses across the city.”

— Councillor Mark Ieronimo, Portfolio Holder for Transportation, Roads and Highways at Hull City Council

The initiative was funded via the Department for Transport’s Green Light Fund, a specialized national grant pool created to foster technological innovation in local traffic signal management and smooth urban traffic flows.

What Are the Key Operational and Privacy Safeguards Put in Place?

Municipal authorities and emergency services have confirmed that the new infrastructure maintains strict operational limits to protect public privacy and focus entirely on safety.

The camera is programmed to trigger exclusively when an authorized emergency vehicle is actively responding to an incident.

Unlike conventional automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems or speed enforcement cameras, this unit does not record data on civil motorists, nor is it linked to any civil penalty or traffic enforcement databases.

“This project is a great example of partnership working to improve safety for everyone using the road network around our Station. The new technology provides a more reliable way of managing traffic movements when we respond to emergencies, helping firefighters leave the Station safely while also giving motorists clear warning that an emergency vehicle is approaching.”

— Craig Henry, Group Manager Emergency Response in Hull at Humberside Fire and Rescue Service

By providing motorists with earlier, clearer warning signals when fire appliances are approaching the Rosmead Street junction, the installation aims to eliminate sudden braking incidents and confusion among general road users.

How Does This Deployment Align With Hull’s Wider Infrastructure Strategy?

The installation forms part of Hull City Council’s ongoing capital investments into modernizing the city’s transport and traffic management systems.

The council has been systematically updating legacy junctions with modern, low-energy LED technology and intelligent traffic controls such as Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation (MOVA) systems across major corridors like Sutton Road, Leads Road, and Anlaby Road.

These combined measures directly align with the local authority’s Community Plan objectives, which focus on delivering safer, cleaner, and better-connected neighbourhoods while lowering municipal carbon outputs through modern highway engineering.

Background of the Particular Development

The junction of Rosmead Street and Southcoates Lane in East Hull has long presented logistical challenges for emergency service vehicles during peak travel hours.

As traffic volumes across urban corridors increased over recent years, appliances exiting the East Hull fire station frequently faced delays navigating onto Southcoates Lane due to congested lanes and restricted visibility for oncoming civilian drivers.

Standard WigWag signals—the traditional flashing amber and red lights used outside fire stations—rely on fixed activation cycles that do not always adapt dynamically to real-time traffic conditions.

To address these vulnerabilities, local transport planners sought funding under the Department for Transport’s Green Light Fund.

The fund was established by central government to help local highway authorities upgrade aging traffic signal controllers, integrate smart sensing technology, and improve network efficiency for public transit and emergency responders alike.

By partnering with traffic technology firm SWARCO, Hull City Council designed a solution tailored specifically to the spatial layout of the Rosmead Street junction.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Emergency Response and Local Road Users

This technological adoption is expected to deliver tangible benefits to two primary audiences: local residents relying on emergency services and everyday motorists navigating East Hull.

For local residents and business owners across East Hull, the primary impact will be faster, more consistent response times during critical fire and rescue incidents.

In structural fires or severe road traffic collisions, saving even a fraction of a minute during turnout can significantly alter outcomes.

By ensuring fire appliances systematically clear the Rosmead Street junction without impediment, operational reliability is projected to improve significantly during high-density traffic periods.

For general motorists, the intelligent system reduces the risk of sudden junction collisions near the fire station.

Because the system triggers signal adjustments earlier and more accurately based on vehicle movement rather than fixed timers, drivers on Southcoates Lane will receive timelier visual warnings.

This creates a smoother flow of traffic, minimizes abrupt stop-and-go maneuvers, and removes concerns regarding privacy or automated traffic fines.

If successful, this trial is likely to serve as a blueprint for similar intelligent emergency preemption rollouts at other busy fire station junctions across the wider Humberside region.