shutting down sirens before an intersection

[mercurygrandmarquis1]

lately ive been noticing a strange trend with a few private ambulances around here (NYC) and was wondering what the deal is with it. About 50 to 100 feet before an intersection the driver will have the siren on wail or yelp and then hit the air horn a few times then shut the siren down completely before heading through the intersection regardless of the traffic light color. Ive only noticed this with private companies and i was wondering whats the reason for that is?

 

[calebsheltonmed23]

I don't know but that's freakin stupid! One of the most important times to have a siren on and they shut it off?! Might be one of their new protocols for running code?


Caleb

 

[whatevah]

That's goofy... even if I can see that every driver has stopped for me, I leave the siren on until I clear the intersection! Now, sometimes I'll kill the siren approaching an intersection if I want to take the right shoulder, but will turn it back on before I enter it, but I think most drivers do that. (Most people are taught pull to the right if you hear a siren, and it's quicker to take an empty shoulder than trying to clear a few stopped lanes)

 

[PC Comms]

It's possible some jackhole is suing an ambulance company for hearing damage because they ran the siren while going through an intersection that people were walking through. I know it sounds stupid, but hey, firemen were suing Federal because the Q was hurting their ears.

 

[911]

im also from staten island............ but i havent noticed this at all............ where have you been seeing this? what companies? im going to look more carefully now........... but i live near one of the biggest intersections in the boro, and never noticed it !!

 

[mercurygrandmarquis1]

im also from staten island............ but i havent noticed this at all............ where have you been seeing this? what companies? im going to look more carefully now........... but i live near one of the biggest intersections in the boro, and never noticed it !!

Ive noticed it at victory and clove and the other time when outside the 120 PCT. One of the companies was Richmond county and i don't recall the other company because i was just coming off after the parade last weekend and i was exhausted.

 

[NPS Ranger]

That's done so you can better hear the horns and screech of rubber from the vehicles about to broadside your rig!

 

[Henry455]

Maybe to hear other emergency vehicles coming cross traffic, ???

 

[Steve0625]

Maybe to hear other emergency vehicles coming cross traffic, ???

I don't shut down the siren at intersections, but if it is a blind one where I don't have a good view left and right for at least a hundred yards, I let the siren wind down briefly for that exact reason.

 

[RBRONKEMA GHTFD]

That's done so you can better hear the horns and screech of rubber from the vehicles about to broadside your rig!

Hilarious.


Thats kind of weird why they do that.

 

[Phillyrube]

EMS in our city has been taught that approaching a heavily packed intersection to shut down their siren so as to avoid "pushing" someone into an intersection. Fire and police do not practice this.

 

[Jman423]

:duh: You might as well close your eyes while you cross too!

 

[patrol530]

If there is no immediate lane of travel at a busy stopped intersection, I opt for the right turn lane. It's easier to push traffic around a right turn safely.

 

[rwo978]

If there is no immediate lane of travel at a busy stopped intersection, I opt for the right turn lane. It's easier to push traffic around a right turn safely.

Which goes against the whole 'passing on the left' thing. You're damned if you do, damned if you don't. :yes: :no:


** PS, I do understand your reasoning behind it, just making an observation.**

 

[calebsheltonmed23]

I don't live in a big city, mostly rural to be infact, so I can't speak for NYC ambulances, but why the siren off. Like Steve0625 said, I could see winding the siren down, but most ambulances that I've ever seen don't have a Q, simulated or not. When I go through an intersection, I hit Hi Lo (or phaser) depending which vehicle I'm driving, and the A/H. Some places astonish me on the things they don't do. I'll get off my rambling.


Caleb

 

[Squad-6]

I don't live in a big city, mostly rural to be infact, so I can't speak for NYC ambulances, but why the siren off. Like Steve0625 said, I could see winding the siren down, but most ambulances that I've ever seen don't have a Q, simulated or not. When I go through an intersection, I hit Hi Lo (or phaser) depending which vehicle I'm driving, and the A/H. Some places astonish me on the things they don't do. I'll get off my rambling.
Caleb

+1. When I first read the title of this thread I had a "wait, WTF," moment.

 

[jswwjw]

Back in the 90's (ya, I've been around a while) military ambulances had to shut off their sirens and get on the PA and say "clear the intersection, ambulance" always scratched my head on that one considering the side of it said "Ambulance". :weird:

 

[CHIEFOPS]

NYS VTL requires all Authorized Emergency Vehicles except Police vehicles to display the proper colored lights and activate a sound device (siren/air horn/veh horn) the entire time it's engaged in "Emergency Operation", they can't use one without the other, so what you're describing is actually illegal.

 

[Bigassfireman]

The national recognized materials I use to teach driver's training each year recommend changing siren tones when approaching and intersection to gain further attention, shutting them off is asking for something to happen. :nono:

 

[calebsheltonmed23]

NYS VTL requires all Authorized Emergency Vehicles except Police vehicles to display the proper colored lights and activate a sound device (siren/air horn/veh horn) the entire time it's engaged in "Emergency Operation", they can't use one without the other, so what you're describing is actually illegal.

+1! Same in MO, and should be every where IMO.