(a) The Department of Transportation shall, in cooperation with interested cities with Traffic Signal Override Systems, apply to the United States Secretary of Transportation for federal funding to conduct a research program in one or more cities to test the effectiveness of the installation of signal emitters and sensors in emergency response vehicles in reducing accidents and injuries.
(b) The project shall study the reduction in accidents and injuries involving emergency response vehicles in the program areas, shall, if possible, assess any reduction in response times by emergency response vehicles in the program areas, and may study other valuable data as deemed appropriate.
(c) The application shall seek full federal funding for the project, including the evaluation component. If the United States Secretary of Transportation requires a nonfederal share of funding, the participating local governments shall pay this share equally.
(d) The department shall apply for federal funding within six months of the effective date of this section unless good cause exists to apply later or not to apply.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 728, Sec. 57. (SB 71) Effective January 1, 2013.)