When people tell you not to play music at full blast in your car, they're not necessarily raining on your parade -- there's a real concern that you might not hear an emergency vehicle until the last moment. You might not have to worry quite so much if a Swedish experiment proves successful, though. Ambulances in Stockholm are testing a KTH-made system (EVAM) that interrupts in-car audio with a voice warning when they're close by and responding to a crisis. The only requirement is that your car's FM tuner support the Radio Data System format, which is common in the cars you see on the road. The interruptions are speed-sensitive, too, so you'll get notices at greater distances when you're on the highway.
Ambulances in the Swedish capital are testing a KTH-made system (EVAM) that interrupts car radios with a warning message when they are responding to a nearby crisis. The system, which is being tested by ambulance services across Sweden, has been developed and patented by the company EVAM. But the trial has also raised concerns that drivers on unaffected streets will also receive a warning. EVAM, which will be tested on handful of ambulances in Stockholm, will be trialled in Q1 of this year.