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999 Sirens in the middle of the night
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ruthandles
#1 Posted : 07 October 2008 21:59:41(UTC)
Rank: Newbie

Joined: 19/09/2007(UTC)
Posts: 1
Am I and my husband the only ones in Newbury Park to complain about hearing 999 sirens all through the night; for example 12pm, 2pm, 4pm I hear them on a regular basis which disturbs our sleep. It's bad enough when it is difficult to sleep yourself. Whatever happened to the 11pm curfew of disturbing the peace?
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DAJohnson
#2 Posted : 26 October 2008 05:07:21(UTC)
Rank: Newbie

Joined: 12/09/2008(UTC)
Posts: 5
The person complaining about sirens at night for whom I am sure it must be disturbing, but it would be even more disturbing for the poor souls involved, that is to say victims of crime, or the need of the use of an ambulance or fire engine, thank your lucky stars that is not you who are in this predicament.:zzz:
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knowsie
#3 Posted : 27 October 2008 12:14:47(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member

Joined: 03/07/2008(UTC)
Posts: 251
I think DAJohnson is missing the point here.

Ruthandles were querying why so many sirens are heard at night - and I can assure them that they are not the only ones to have their rest disturbed.

The real question that needs to be answered is "are these sirens really necessary?"

Very late one night some while ago, we were walking up Aldborough Road South, near the junction of Vicarage Lane, when a fire appliance came roaring up the Cauliflower Hill behind us. Then the sirens were switched on which, being mounted at first floor level, must be even worse for people attempting to sleep in their front bedrooms than it was for us at ground level.

But why? There was no other vehicle on the road and the open land at the Benton Road junction gives a very clear view of any traffic approaching from the right (there was none on this occasion). Traffic from the left on Benton Road itself (had there been any) would have been travelling fairly slowly due to the calming effect of the double bend immediately before the junction. Siren or no siren, the junction is blind to traffic from the left and requires the fire appliance slow right down anyway.

What was achieved, apart from a lot of unnecessary noise and disturbance? Absolutely nothing!

And what effect on the appliance's progress would there have been if had there been no sirens and there had been traffic from the left - which would, of course, have had no trouble seeing the flashing blue lights ahead? Absolutely nothing!

In fact, I would imagine that the combination of bends and multiple sound reflecting surfaces there would result in highly ambiguous (and, therefore, distracting) auditory signals from sirens, whereas the visual warning is clear and unambiguous.

So, how many of these sirens are just unnecessary disturbance just for the hell of it?

Probably, like me, most people only hear the noise and are rarely in a position to observe the source and judge the necessity at first hand? Any night owls out there who can come up with any other observations?
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vfmctax
#4 Posted : 27 October 2008 12:42:45(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member

Joined: 15/05/2008(UTC)
Posts: 186
ruthandles wrote:
Whatever happened to the 11pm curfew of disturbing the peace?


Regulation 37(5)(a). This permits vehicles used for fire brigade, ambulance or police
purposes to be fitted with a gong, bell, siren, or two- tone horn. Continuous use may
be justified in heavy traffic conditions, otherwise it may be necessary to use them only
when other road users need to be warned of the presence of the vehicle.
Regulation 99(5)(a). This prohibits the use of audible warning instruments (eg horns,
gongs, bells, sirens, two-tone horns) on a vehicle which is stationary on a road, at any
time, other than at times of danger due to another moving vehicle on or near the
road, or on a vehicle in motion on a restricted road between 23.30 hours and 07.00
hours in the following morning, except for a vehicle which is being used for one of the
relevant purposes specified in Regulation 37(5)(a) and it is necessary or desirable to do
so either to indicate to other road users the urgency of the purposes for which the
vehicle is being used, or to warn other road users of the presence of the vehicle on the
road.
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annesevant
#5 Posted : 27 October 2008 14:12:23(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member

Joined: 14/07/2007(UTC)
Posts: 975
To reply to vfmctax on the use of horns, etc, ...
Lovely set of regulations and who is going to police that?
Same for fireworks and bangers in public places!
annesevant
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TibbyToes
#6 Posted : 14 November 2008 14:00:17(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member

Joined: 11/01/2008(UTC)
Posts: 41
We also have the same problem here in the Valentines Ward - particularly with police helicopters flying over and going round and round with a search beam on full whack at all hours of the night.
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Tyler Harrington
#7 Posted : 14 November 2008 17:31:44(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member

Joined: 10/01/2008(UTC)
Posts: 55
I am sure that the next time you fall dwn the stairs or are burgled you will be more than happy for the Emergency Services to use their sirens.
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julie bradley
#8 Posted : 26 August 2009 11:32:24(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member

Joined: 20/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 350
Just read the comments and cannot believe the selfishness of some people. The police do not (supposedly, as they are monitored) ride around with their siren blasting for no good purpose. You ever come round a blind corner and found a police car coming at you without their siren going ? Yes its annoying having your sleep disturbed, but if it was a burglar how would you feel knowing help might be coming? Oh and by the way there are a lot of patient transfers up and down Eastern Avenue/ A12 where the ambulances are passed from police area to police area at junctions, sometimes from Southend Hospital all the way to Great Ormond Street for example. Also if there is a large fire in one area, the fire brigade transfers units around to cover, they might use warnings at junctions in case of accidents as well.
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etoc2001
#9 Posted : 27 August 2009 15:28:35(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member

Joined: 06/11/2008(UTC)
Posts: 232
I've never heard more than 10 or so all night - never 999
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julie bradley
#10 Posted : 05 September 2009 14:28:01(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member

Joined: 20/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 350
We are at present "enjoying" the Redbridge Carnival - no doubt tippy toes will be complaining again....however I must say that the noise is getting to me today, I cannot open a window, nor sit in the garden today and we have it all again tomorrow! Oh well, I just hope Mr Chaudrey got some floats/lorries in otherwise it will be a very small Carnival.
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