The New Police Siren You Can Actually Feel
"The Howler" uses a low frequency vibration that can be felt from up to 200 feet away
Posted: Jan 23, 2012
| By: AOL Autos Staff
A new kind of police siren that emits low-frequency vibrations, is making waves -- quite literally -- in the town of Bartow, Fla. Although pedestrians may find it unpleasant, officers think it's a safer and more effective means of announcing their presence.
"I don't know if I could go back to a regular siren and feel safe with it," Bartow Officer Bryan Dorman told WTSP.
Co-developed by a former Florida highway patrol officer, the Howler works by sending out a low-frequency vibration people can feel from up to 200 feet away. With electronic distractions becoming an ever-present part of our lives, the addition of the vibration to the lights and audible siren could be an invaluable safety tool.
Hundreds of police departments around the country have started using the system, including the NYPD.
While officers think the Howler is an effective device, not everyone thinks it's such a good idea. Noise control groups have voiced their opposition, calling the siren "disorienting."
"[The] siren easily triggers an involuntary stress response commonly known as 'fight or flight.' This results in the secretion of adrenaline, with ensuing spikes in cardio-respiratory rates, muscle tension, and elevated blood pressure," claims NoiseOFF, a coalition aimed at reducing noise pollution. "Infrasound is low frequency sound energy that affects the nervous system and prolonged exposure can lead to progressive medical conditions."
Police officers and noise-control groups may not agree on the Howler's viability as a safety tool, they concur on one thing: You know when a police car is coming.
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They have had these sorts of sirens on fire engines in some larger cities for at least 5 years now....
January 26 2012 at 11:26 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyhow about a you tube channel so we your followers can follow ?
January 26 2012 at 1:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replywow that's so cool how a you tube channel guys please thanks
January 26 2012 at 1:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI imagine this has no adverse effects on people with pace makers.
January 25 2012 at 3:05 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWhat they really want is a siren that spits out rays to electrocute suspects. But there's just too many suspects and not enough rays.
January 24 2012 at 7:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replythey should just record my wifes or mothers voice..their schreeching can be heard for miles..lol
January 24 2012 at 4:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replybecause the noise pollution from city police sirens is not enough.
January 24 2012 at 3:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHey this is great think i"ll have one installed on my vehicle so when of you dumb #$%$# get a phone call going down the interstate and start slowing down i'll be able to jump start you to move out the way
January 24 2012 at 3:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThe police in my town have been using it and it is very annoying, i don't drive around with my radio blasting i can still hear the sirens and you can see the sirens and lights from miles back and i'm always checking my mirror so i always see em way before anything i don't need something virbrating my whole body it makes you feel really werid and can make you dizzy it made my wife dizzy it feels like you put a car bass aginst your body and blast it and you feel it thoughout your whole body, i agree it is needed it's also needed on Fire Dept trucks too because some kids drive around blasting their radios and peds don't always look when crossing the roads but maybe they can do something else....
January 24 2012 at 2:41 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyFire Trucks have those air horns that you CAN feel plus, their sirens are a deeper, throatier frequency that allows you to tell where they are coming from.
January 24 2012 at 2:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYou are probably talking about a Federal Q siren which is a mechanical siren. It's a smaller cousin of an Air Raid or Tornado siren. It takes a LOT of power to run one of those, it has a motor about the size of a starter motor so it would be too much of a drain on a car's alternator.
January 24 2012 at 3:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate downOh good!! Cause, ya know, I'm really not startled enough by the sudden and unexpected appearance of flashing light RIGHT behind me accompanied by the high-pitched wail that sounds as though it is coming from all directions at once!! Yeah, thats what I need... I need someone to sneak up behind me in the dark of night and GOOSE me while I'm driving!
January 24 2012 at 2:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyModel Spotlight
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