Old 2 tone sirens on ambulance

Old-school 2 tones sirens on Ford Transit ambulance being tested, after some re-wiring of the circuitry to the air compressor. The trumpets are Fiamm "Series 2000" type, these ones are old, but I have some new ones for this V6 ambulance so they should sound much better. This was filmed January 2008. The wiring was temporarily looped onto the fuseboard (in the glove-box) at the time, and it wasn't permanently connected up. In January 08 it was freezing and dark, hence my mate said "he wasnt putting his hand in there tonight" cos he probably would have blown himself up!

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• Siren

[HigherWaysWoman]

I really like the 2 tone sirens, wish all emergency vehicles used them. In the usa sirens are not kind to the ears. Are drivers to pull to the side of the road &/or at a light stand still when Emergency Vehicles are approaching?

[markthebusman]

@HigherWaysWoman - Legally they dont have to move out of the way or wait at junctions, its entirely done as a courtesy. Blues & siren is only a warning of their presence, it dont grant automatic right of way, and if emergency vehicle is involved in a collision when going through a junction (against the lights) the emergency driver is totally at fault, regardless of wether they're in a rig headin to a fire, or transportin cardiac victim, and the dumb shit who wasnt payin attention gets a new car

[Audinos]

Are there any agencies in Ireland or the UK which still use these 2nd interval sirens?

[markthebusman]

@Audinos, yes only seen Dublin Fire Brigade's D102 (Tara St) a few days ago and this was also using the 2-tone siren, alot of Civil Defence appliances still have them as they are cheaper to buy than electronic sirens

[Harvey142009]

is this an Irish or British ambulance?

[markthebusman]

Its Irish, ex-Dublin Airport Fire Service

Well, the bodywork is Irish, obviously its a Ford so its on an English chassis!! :-)

[Audinos]

This is a classic British 2nd-interval siren. You don't hear these much anymore, except on French fire brigade vehicles.

[hz6761]

I am wondering when will the two tones appears again? No matter in UK, Singapore or Hong Kong

[filthykafur]

@HigherWaysWoman In the UK in the 1960s we called the two tone horns a "Klaxon".

[TexasToast09]

The reasons the U.S stopped using 2 toned sirens is because people would ignore them. They had to switch to something that would catch the attention of people, even if it meant making them uncomfortable.

[061zgz]

Lovely!

[HigherWaysWoman]

@markthebusman thank you so very much for replying. I wish we had thez regulation in the US. There's a real problem w/ambulance drivers, & police as well, believing they r so highly important & every1 should yield to them & thus caus'g "numerous" accidents. No matter what...it's "always" the other driver who is @ fault. They get a new car huh...hmmmm *winks 'n chuckles* :-P enjoyed meet'g 'n chat'g w/u, mark. "always" take care 'n much sex I mean "Blessings" yeah thats it..to you LOL!*blushes*

[koolyman]

we need these sirens back! the new ones aren't any better.

[scuderia2000]

Cork City Fire Brigade still use them

[weeardguy]

Cool! To my opinion, pneumatic sirens are way better than any electronic one...