What is the difference between police sirens and ambulance sirens?

Most emergency vehicle sirens create 110-120 decibels when turned on. Police sirens can sound louder than ambulances or fire trucks because cop cars usually have their siren mounted low on the front bumper. Fire trucks also mount their sirens on the bumper, but the large size of the vehicle absorbs some of the sounds.

What should you do when an emergency vehicle with a siren?

You must yield the right-of-way to a police car, fire engine, ambulance, or other emergency vehicle that uses a siren and flashing lights. Pull as close to the right of the road as possible and stop until the emergency vehicle(s) has passed.

Why are emergency sirens different?

This original two-tone sound was created by two different horns operated alternately. New sirens use one speaker (or two speakers playing the same sound). These sirens typically operate between 1kHz and 3kHz as this is where our ears are the most sensitive.

How far should you trail behind a signaling emergency vehicle?

Stay at least 500 feet behind any moving emergency vehicle displaying flashing warning lights and sounding a siren. Never race after an emergency vehicle to get through a traffic light.

Are there different types of sirens?

There are two different tones used by Outdoor Warning Sirens: Attack: The signal for enemy attack is a rising and falling tone heard for 3 minutes. Civil Emergency: The signal for a civil emergency (such as a tornado) is a steady wail heard for at least 3 minutes.

How far back do emergency vehicles?

Even after an emergency vehicle has passed, you should keep your vehicle at a safe distance behind it. While rules can also vary by state, a general rule of thumb is to stay 500 feet behind an emergency vehicle, says the City of Madison Fire Department.

Why are ambulance lights red and blue?

Over time, emergency vehicles began to incorporate the latest high-tech flashing lights. Some studies indicate that red lights are more visible during the day, while blue lights are more visible at night. The combination of flashing red and blue lights helps to alert drivers regardless of the time of day.

What happens when you hear sirens while driving?

If you hear sirens and see flashing lights in your rear-view or side-view mirrors, the emergency vehicle you must yield to is likely traveling in the same direction as your car and seeking to occupy the same space on the roadway.

What should you do when you hear emergency sirens?

When you hear an emergency vehicle’s sirens, look to see where it is on the road. Investigate: Look in your rearview mirror as well as to the sides of your car to gauge how fast the emergency vehicle is going and to figure out what you will do next.

Could an ambulance be integrated into a car’s own infotainment system?

While we were riding along, an ambulance approached from the rear as part of the demonstration. A notification appeared on a dedicated screen indicating that an emergency vehicle was nearby; in production, it could be integrated into the car’s own infotainment systems.

What is the siren protocol?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides a set of steps under the acronym SIREN to help drivers understand what they should do in this situation. The SIREN protocol is as follows: