Japan Introduces the “Comfort Siren” for Ambulances! Can You Hear the Difference?
There are opinions that the siren sound of ambulances is too loud in Japan. During the day, the roads are congested. To make way for ambulances, sirens are blared, signaling other vehicles to give way. However, at night, when most people are asleep and the roads are less busy, some argue that there’s no need for such loud sirens.
In Japan, the siren’s volume is regulated by the Road Transport Vehicle Act. It must be audible from 20 meters ahead and fall within a range of 90dB to 120dB. As an emergency vehicle, ambulances don’t have to obey traffic signals, but the siren can’t be turned off, nor can its volume be reduced.
It’s vital to alert people in emergencies, but there’s also a desire to minimize discomfort. To address this dilemma, Toyota spent years in development. The developers were so engrossed that even after work, the sound of sirens echoed in their minds. Finally, they created the “Comfort Siren” by overlaying harmonics on the traditional sound to reduce its harshness.
Shimonoseki City in Japan introduced this new siren on three of their ambulances on October 11th. It’s intended for use during nighttime or in residential areas. Japan is known for its attention to subtle differences. However, when I listened to the new sound, I couldn’t discern much of a difference, which is a bit disappointing.
Can you all notice the difference? Do you find the new sound less intrusive?
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