Chicago
Will new law really muffle that siren noise Streeterville residents have been complaining about?
Chicago Tribune, August 24, 2018
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-met-siren-ambulance-noise-law-20180823-story.html
Illinois General Assembly Bill HB5632 passed in 2018:
Synopsis As Introduced:
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an ambulance or rescue vehicle shall operate a siren and lamp or lamps only when it is reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the approach thereof while responding to an emergency call or transporting a patient who presents a combination of circumstances resulting in a need for immediate medical intervention that is beyond the capabilities of the emergency responders using the available supplies and equipment.
Illinois General Assembly Bill HB5632 passed in 2018
London
The “Sounder City” noise strategy from the Mayor of London (2004) is a long-term plan for dealing with noise from transport.
Emergency vehicles are discussed on pages 114-115.
https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/mayors_noise_strategy.pdf#page=114
https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2012/3408
https://www.london.gov.uk/talk-london/environment/noise-emergency-vehicles
According to this Question and Answer page, London’s emergency vehicles are using directional sound technology although this has not remedied residents’ concerns.
New York City
Title 24, Chapter 2, Subchapter 6 of the New York City Administrative Code concerns noise
https://nycadmincode.readthedocs.io/t24/c02/index.html
Within the Code, section 24-241 (b) limits the decibel level of emergency signal devices. This provision dates back to 2005:
https://nycadmincode.readthedocs.io/t24/c02/sch06/index.html
(b) No person shall operate or permit to be operated an emergency signal device installed on an authorized emergency vehicle that when operated at the maximum level creates a sound level in excess of 90 dB(A) when measured at a distance of fifty feet from the center of the forward face of such vehicle. Within one year after the effective date of this subdivision and every two years thereafter, emergency signal devices installed on authorized emergency vehicles shall be tested and certification shall be submitted, in a form approved by the department, that such devices meet the standard set forth in this subdivision for operation at maximum level. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, where compliance with the provisions of this subdivision would create an undue hardship, the owner or operator of an authorized emergency vehicle may submit a plan to the commissioner for emergency signal devices to meet the standard set forth in this subdivision within two years after the effective date of this subdivision. Such plan shall be submitted within one year after the effective date of this subdivision in lieu of the required certification. This subdivision shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles of the police department, fire department or authorized emergency vehicles responding to medical emergencies.
New York City Administrative Code
New York City Administrative Code
A bill to change to New York City’s sirens to a high and low sound received much press coverage when it was brought before NYC council in 2019, but it was never enacted.
Here is a link to the legislation that was then proposed:
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring alternating high and low, two-toned signal devices on emergency services vehicles (2019)
https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3860385&GUID=63E2CE64-BFA3-45AD-A79F-2E579D003BB9&Options=ID%7cText%7c&Search=rosentha
New York City Lawmakers Call For Less Piercing Emergency Vehicle Sirens.
NPR, February 26, 2019
https://www.npr.org/2019/02/26/698063492/new-york-city-lawmakers-call-for-less-piercing-emergency-vehicle-sirens
Opinion: Sirens and suffering: Rethinking the soundtrack of the coronavirus crisis.
Gotham Gazette, April 1, 2020
https://www.gothamgazette.com/opinion/9324-sirens-suffering-rethinking-soundtrack-coronavirus-crisis-new-york-city
These following two articles specifically mention Operation Silent Night:
Untitled article by from Gothamgazette.com
https://www.gothamgazette.com/index.php/tags-misconduct/1549-emily-jane-goodman
Many pleas for quiet, but city still thunders:
Rueb, E. S. (2013, Jul 13) New York Times
Stockholm
Ambulances to jam car radios in Sweden.
BBC News, January 17, 2017
Ambulances in Stockholm are testing a system that interrupts in-car audio systems to warn drivers that they need to get through.
The solution was developed by students at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in the city.
It broadcasts a voice warning, while a text message also appears in the radio display.
It uses an FM radio signal to jam drivers’ speakers and stop music playing.
It will only be able to alert cars that have their radios turned on. It can also interrupt CDs and music connected via Bluetooth.
BBC News
BBC News