On Difficulties in Localizing Ambulance Sirens

Abstract

This project investigated how difficult it is to localize sirens under normal driving conditions. It considered various positions and movement directions of ambulances with respect to the driver, and compared traditional types of sirens with a new electronic range of sirens. Results indicate that judgments of distance, location, and direction of the siren source are unreliable, since they are particularly dependent on the driving conditions and the type of siren employed. In all, one type of siren seems to produce more accurate responses than other types and, therefore, may be regarded as a safer device.