Vodafone Integrates STEP with UDAP to Enhance Emergency Response in the Netherlands

Vodafone Integrates STEP with UDAP to Enhance Emergency Response in the Netherlands

(IN BRIEF) A new integration between Vodafone’s Safer Transport for Europe Platform (STEP) and the Netherlands’ Urban Data Access Platform (UDAP) will soon allow emergency services to alert more road users and authorities about approaching emergency vehicles, enabling quicker and safer responses. Operated by Monotch for the Ministry of Infrastructure, UDAP currently connects 25% of Dutch drivers and all ambulances. The integration facilitates the exchange of anonymized location data between emergency vehicles and various car manufacturers, prompting drivers to clear the way before the vehicle is seen or heard. This collaboration leverages STEP’s V2X technology to overcome data silos and is expected to enhance road safety and traffic flow across Europe.

(PRESS RELEASE) BERKSHIRE, 5-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Emergency services in the Netherlands are set to enhance their response times and safety by directly informing a larger network of road users and local authorities when they have right of way. This breakthrough is driven by the integration of Vodafone’s Safer Transport for Europe Platform (STEP) with the national Urban Data Access Platform (UDAP), operated by Monotch for the Ministry of Infrastructure.

STEP, which facilitates communication between vehicles and transport authorities to alert drivers about approaching emergency vehicles, now receives real-time location data from UDAP. This vital information is then distributed to various car manufacturers, enabling their systems to prompt drivers to pull over even before the emergency vehicle is visible or audible.

Currently, UDAP connects with 25% of Dutch drivers via smartphone apps and in-car devices, and all ambulances in the country are linked to the system. By merging STEP with UDAP, Vodafone aims to broaden the exchange of anonymized location and progress data of emergency vehicles among road users, ensuring a faster and more coordinated response during critical situations.

Luke Ibbetson, Head of R&D and Strategy at Vodafone Group, stated, “This collaboration is a significant move towards enhancing road safety for all—motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. With our expansive pan-European networks, we are uniquely positioned to unite motor manufacturers with partners like Monotch, creating an ecosystem that not only makes roads safer but also more intelligent.”

Launched in 2022, STEP leverages V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) technology to overcome data fragmentation and information silos that have traditionally hindered effective safety communication. By enabling a seamless flow of safety alerts, hazard warnings, and traffic updates across various devices and in-vehicle systems, STEP offers a unified solution that was previously unattainable with disparate technologies and conventional infrastructure tools like motorway gantries and variable-message signs.

The open-standard based platform is designed to foster collaboration among a wide range of industry players, all working towards the common goal of improving road safety across Europe. Through this partnership with UDAP, Vodafone is not only set to reduce emergency response times but also to shape the future of intelligent transportation, ensuring safer and smoother traffic flow for everyone.

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SOURCE: Vodafone Group