Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/26/83; site ihuxw.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhuxt!mhuxi!mhuxa!houxm!hocda!spanky!burl!sb1!ll1!otuxa!we13!ihnp4!ihuxw!thor From: thor@ihuxw.UUCP Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: siren survey summary Message-ID: <438@ihuxw.UUCP> Date: Wed, 3-Aug-83 10:29:11 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxw.438 Posted: Wed Aug 3 10:29:11 1983 Date-Received: Fri, 5-Aug-83 16:12:12 EDT Organization: BTL Naperville, Il. Lines: 144 Here, as promised, is "Seifert's spectacular, stupendiously spiffy, stealthaly silent siren song survey summary". My machine isn't in the mood to post news this week, so I am using a friend's account to post this. Please send any responses to: ihnp4!ihuxl!seifert rather than ihuxw!thor. Thank you. The vote is: 6 - yes (7 including myself) 1 - use moderation 1 - couldn't tell what their opinion was 1 - no, (but persons breaking 'netiquite' by doing a followup rather than a reply deserve to be in the minority) some replies, mildly edited: ============================================== I personally would opt for some moderation in the usage of sirens (read intelligent usage). In OK where I most recently moved from the standard procedure regarding sirens is that they are only used when: 1. Approaching a vehicle from the rear - punch the siren button briefly. 2. Approaching an intersection with visible vehicles/pedestrians - again briefly punch the siren. 3. Approaching a blind intersection - punch the siren beginning a good distance before the intersection and carrying through it. David W. Berry ------------------------------- From: Rick Sample1) Here in Vancouver, emergency vehicles (in emergency mode) always use both lights and siren. The only time that lights alone are used is when a cop is pulling someone over for a traffic offense. 2) I vote in favour of sirens. ------------------------------- (1) some of these emergency veh. don't even bother to use their lights around here ... very dangerous ... very annoying (2) I vote for sirens (as well as lights) lynda feng houxz!llf ------------------------------- Dave: You must not live in Wheaton. I was in Wheaton today for lunch, and while waiting at a red light at the corner of West Street and Roosevelt, the fire dep't rescue squad came barreling through the intersection, sirens loud and also laying on the air horns! Couldn't miss him! A friend and neighbor works for the Wheaton Fire Department, and he told me about how former mayor Ralph Barger used to complain about the fire engines going by his house in the middle of the night with the sirens on. So, instead of turning the sirens off, the firemen used to say, "here comes Ralph's house, let's lay on the horns!" I'm for sirens. As for Ralph, we got rid of him. He's no longer mayor -- he's in the House of Reps in Washington. Somewhat by default, incidentally -- he replaced two people, both of whom died while holding the seat. Carl Blesch Bell Labs - Naperville, Ill. IH 2A-159, (312) 979-3360 ihuxm!prgclb ------------------------------- Yes, unfortunately, this stupidity goes on in New Jersey, too. I agree with you 100%. I have also had some close calls -- not just due to lack of sirens but also with some idiots of patrolmen who don't look to see if there is any traffic coming before opening their car doors as wide as possible -- even when they aren't in a hurry. I vote to have the sirens restored. Brian Carty mhtsa!bcc mh3bs3!bcc pwbcc!bcc ------------------------------- >From psvv Fri Jul 22 08:42:10 1983 remote from houxg We don't seem to have the siren problem in the New York,New Jersey area. Especially at the intersections where they need the sirens the most.They really let them wail! ------------------------------- Here in the east, mid-Jersey to be exact, the practice is also prevalent. I have, however, seen ambulances blip their sirens when they are going through an intersection or are coming up on traffic that they want to get out of the way. In addition to police and ambulance vehicles don't forget fire vehicles and the crazy volunteer firefighters with their cutsie blue lights in their grills. Every time I hear the fire siren go off I just run and hide. Joseph L. Wood, III BMWCCA - NJ Chapt. ABI Holmdel (201) 834-3759 ariel!jlw ================================================ I just got a new officemate, who is involved with the ambulance/fire dept, and he says it is illegal to use sirens except at intersections. Also ambulances must obey all traffic laws, except that they may cross red lights after stopping first (but if they're hit its still their fault). He didn't know if this was a recent change or if this is unique to Illinois. Seems to me that E.V. used to zoom around, but used sirens, now E.V.s go slower, but still break a lot of traffic rules and don't use their sirens. If 'they' don't want E.V.s running around with sirens all the time disturbing people (never bothered me very much and I used to live within a block of three major streets and heard them *often*) then the E.V.s really should obey *all* the traffic regs. Those flashing lights may be ok at night, but are next to worthless in daylight. yours for the elimination of 'stealth' emergency vehicles, Dave Seifert BMWCCA, Windy City Chapter ihnp4!ihuxl!seifert (NOT ihuxw!thor)