MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A pilot program in Manatee County that has helped emergency vehicles reach scenes quicker might be expanding, thanks to its success helping save lives.

Donald McEachern has been a paramedic since 1993 and serves as the District Chief of Operations for Manatee County EMS. But he still goes out in the field on several calls each shift.

“I just loved helping people. I really, really enjoyed helping people and making a difference in people’s lives,” he said.

He says technology is helping save more lives.

The program began last year and has helped first responders get to emergencies in a more timely fashion. Now, EMS hopes expansion of the traffic signal technology is approved by the county commission.

“They push that first button, which is the emergency lights, that turns all the emergency lights on," McEachern said. "And it also activates the system to alert the traffic signals whenever they are approaching them to turn green for us. And red for the opposite opposing traffic."

The technology was installed in eight ambulances and two supervisor vehicles. It allows first responders to switch the light to green automatically.

“There’s times when we pull out of the station and none of the vehicles will stop for us. It alleviates or eliminates a big portion of our response,” he said.

The county estimates that emergency vehicles save 11 seconds at each of the 24 intersections where the technology is present. County commissioners are expected to decide whether to expand the program.

“This system is great. It really helps us tremendously,” McEachern explained.

It's critical help in emergency situations, when first responders like Donald are focused on saving lives.

Manatee County EMS says it is still waiting on county commissioners to get back about if this program will be expanded. No date has been set yet.