Good heavens:
With New Device, Police Shake, Rattle and Roll
Meet the Rumbler.
The high-tech blaster is being used along with the traditional siren. It is aimed at grabbing people’s attention and getting them to make room for officers responding to emergencies, helping police navigate through traffic faster and safer. People can feel it from about 200 feet away.
The problem is apparently that hearing people don’t pay attention to the sirens…
“The basic idea is we become more insulated in our vehicles with stereos, iPods and telephones,” Morgan said. “We thought it would be helpful if there was something else along with the traditional siren that would reach a different level of awareness.”
Dunno about y’all, but I have no trouble noticing sirens and pulling over. They’ve got those really cool visual cues: Flashing lights! Which you can see! Who would have thought!
Oh, sorry, I think my snark’s showing. Still I’d be curious to see how this feels up close. One thought I do have: 200 feet is not much distance. You need to pull over before that when you see lights behind you, in order to clear the way.
I felt it last night when a cop car, armed with one of those Rumblers, passed through my neighborhood. It was pretty noticeable even though I was on the second floor of my apartment building.
Thanks for the heads-up. I would hate to suddenly feel this rumble and not know where it came from. Living in earthquake country always has me on edge as it is. Now I’ve got to pay attention to a cop’s rumbler! Sigh….
~ LaRonda
Hmm, what would that feel like…a car with a broken muffler or a motorcyclist loudly buzzing by? I think from now on whenever that buzz hits my car I would freeze knowing it just might be a cop. Not too reassuring considering what we have been reading about cops and deaf people.