Rumbler siren

A Rumbler siren is a type of emergency vehicle siren used primarily in the United States. Developed in 2007 by Federal Signal Corporation, and sounding at a low-frequency level, it is designed to be heard by motorists who may otherwise be unable to hear high-frequency sirens due to ambient noise, such as urban traffic.

Rumbler siren

Design

The Rumbler produces a pulsating, low-frequency sound between 182 and 400 hertz,[1] and is operated in tandem with a standard, piercing high-frequency siren. The lower frequency sound penetrates hard surfaces like glass and doors more effectively than high-frequency tones. In addition, the siren's low-frequency thumping sound also causes noticeable vibrations to drivers and pedestrians who are near it and helps to generate attention in high-noise environments like "dense, urban traffic". The Rumbler is about 10 decibels quieter than a standard emergency vehicle siren and is generally activated in eight-second bursts by depressing the horn button in a Rumbler-equipped vehicle.[2][3][4]

History

The Rumbler was developed by Federal Signal Corporation as an "intersection clearing device". It was initially tested by the New York Police Department in 2007.[3]

According to Noise Off, a noise pollution advocacy group, more than 100 U.S. police departments had deployed the siren by 2012, including those of: Washington, D.C.; Amarillo, Texas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Reading, Pennsylvania. As of 2016, the per-unit cost of the siren was between US$400 and $700 (equivalent to between US$488 and $854 in 2022).[5][3][6]

In 2015, emergency vehicles in New South Wales, Australia were outfitted with Rumbler sirens and, the following year, some ambulances in Singapore began to be equipped with the Rumbler.[7][8] According to Singapore officials, the decision to adopt the Rumbler came after seeing its efficacy in U.S. police vehicles.[7][8]

Wales Air Ambulance's response vehicles are now equipped with the rumbler siren.[9] This is the second application of such equipment in the UK, having only previously been used by another response doctor charity in Hampshire.[10]

"Rumbler" was a nominee for "People's Choice Award Word of the Year" for 2016 by the Macquarie Dictionary.[11]

New vehicles operated by the Queensland Ambulance Service are fitted with a Rumbler siren.

See also

References
  1. "Rumbler Siren" Specifications by FederalSignal
  2. "Rumbler Siren". KLKN-TV. 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  3. "The New Police Siren: You'll Feel It Coming". New York Times. February 25, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  4. "Rumbler®". fedsig.com. Federal Signal Corporation. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  5. NoiseOFF. "Rumbler Siren". noiseoff.org. Noise Off. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  6. CBS58 Staff (2016-02-12). "Milwaukee Police Department's Rumbler Siren Vibrates Cars". WDJT-TV. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
  7. Cheong, Danson (2016-05-07). "Give way to this ambulance or your vehicle will shake". Straits Times. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  8. Gerathy, Sarah (2015-08-15). "Sirens that can be felt as well heard rolled out across NSW as pedestrians and drivers 'tune out'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  9. https://www.facebook.com/EmergencyServicesHumour/videos/481337309429246/
  10. BBC News (2009-07-03). "Vibrating siren tested by doctors". Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  11. 9News (2017-01-25). "Macquarie Dictionary announces its 2016 Word of the Year". 9 News. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
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