Night Time Emergency Services Using Their Sirens

Ldpk91 on 13/12/2023 - 22:42
Last edited 14/12/2023 - 10:18 by 1 other user

Hi OzBargainers,

We live in the city with a 6 month old child. Being the city there is obviously a lot going on at all times. Including night time. I accept this and as soon as we can we will move out to somewhere quieter.

What I don’t understand is why after nightfall, the emergency services use their sirens. Surely if it is dark the emergency lights on their vehicles are enough in residential areas. It’s dark so the lights can be seen very easily. Maybe half a dozen times a night a siren goes directly past our bedroom window waking our baby. I know in the UK the emergency cannot use their sirens after dark in build up areas. And my friends partner works in the firies says it is the same here in Aus.

I have two questions here. Am I reading this wrong and it is totally acceptable for them to use sirens after night fall? And if it is not acceptable what can I actually do about it? I’m sure we are not the only ones this noise made by the people who essentially are there to help us are making.

Look forward to reading your comments. Thanks

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Hardstuck Silver 2 on 15/12/2023 - 22:35
    +3

    Troll post but to really out this: "I know in the UK the emergency cannot use their sirens after dark in build up areas."

    Currently living in London - can confirm this is bs; it gets dark at 4pm and definitely heard sirens at 11pm last night.

    • ssdexecutor82 on 15/12/2023 - 23:50

      4pm is very early didn't know about that

      • Antikythera on 17/12/2023 - 00:19
        +1

        the further from the equator the more pronounced winter shortening and summer lengthening of day cycle.

        London is further north (51 degree) than the southern tip of new zealand is south (47 degree)

        in fact 51 degree south is approximately half way between Melbourne and the coast of Antarctica.

        i never realised London was so far north.

        • Windows7forever on 17/12/2023 - 18:19

          Very interesting

        • Hardstuck Silver 2 on 18/12/2023 - 20:09

          Yeah it's jarring - summer sunset is closer to 10/10:30pm which is also wild because 7pm ends up feeling like mid afternoon in Sydney summer

  • Hydralyte on 15/12/2023 - 23:34
    -2

    We live in the city with a 6 month old child

    Not the place to raise a child unless you want them inhaling all the crap festering beneath and in the city.

  • Empharand on 15/12/2023 - 23:37
    +3

    Am I reading this wrong and it is totally acceptable for them to use sirens after night fall?

    Yes you are, and yes it is.

    I’m sure we are not the only ones this noise made by the people who essentially are there to help us are making.

    I had a stroke reading this.

    • rumblytangara on 16/12/2023 - 21:44
      +2

      I had a stroke reading this.

      I hope the ambulance got to you in time- did they use their sirens?

      • Empharand on 16/12/2023 - 22:53
        +2

        Empharand's sister here, I'm sorry to report but unfortunately the ambulance on-route to us didn't make it… The Ambulance driver didn't use the sirens out of respect for people like OP…. The Ambulance got T-Boned by an inexperienced driver in Melbourne CBD, when the driver was questioned they said (and I quote) 'Why no weeewooo weeewooo bro?'

        We're devastated but on the positive side, OP's family (including the 6 month old shit goblin) were able to sleep without disturbance.

        RIP

        • WhyAmICommenting on 19/12/2023 - 03:32

          Sorry to have to tell you this, but baby was hungry and awake anyway. My condolences for your loss.

  • Narull on 16/12/2023 - 00:06
    +1

    wow OP really showed they are a true piece of shit, feel bad for the kid being bought up by someone like this and yes OP you're wrong, they can use their sirens whenever they like.

  • CauseNEffect on 16/12/2023 - 01:05
    +1

    (profanity) off you entitled twat. Back to the uk if you cant handle it or just move….

    Emergency services are for everyone. Way more important than your wishes.

  • Bammers on 16/12/2023 - 07:28
    +2

    You sound like those people who move near places (Luna Park, Race Track, Etc) then complain about the noise.

    I'm sure the person in the emergency vehicle has more pressing things to attend to or worry about than waking up a baby, have a think about it…..

  • belongsinforums on 16/12/2023 - 10:01
    +6

    Sun using its sunrays

    Hi guys. Every morning the sun uses it rays earlier and wakes me up from my wonderful sleep. It's getting really annoying. In the UK the sun lets me sleep in much longer. Does anyone else think the sun should cater to my every need?

  • rlf on 16/12/2023 - 10:20
    -8

    Man (profanity) all these snarky replies.

    I was in the same situation, I live inner city but across from a main road. It's completely deserted at night, like 1am-5am. 1 car a minute type stuff. Dead quiet.

    But police would often just go max volume sirens speeding down for no reason at all at all times during the night. No one else of the road. It got so annoying I wrote the council complaining - no reply.

    They just don't give a shit.

    Give me on good reason they need max volume when there's no other cars on the road. In fact, even ignoring the reason they put them on when there's traffic around, wouldn't it be beneficial for them NOT to alert the potential criminals that the cops are on the way?

    • Antikythera on 17/12/2023 - 00:20
      +2

      need max volume

      you realise there isn't a volume setting?
      its on / off toggle.

      I lived on Clayton Rd about 10 houses up from Monash Medical Centre for a year. Never complained about the sirens. But I did eventually move.

    • Sammy Boi on 16/12/2023 - 11:07
      +1

      OP has -72 brain cells and if you think this is a legitimate Post you're probably in the same boat.

      Nearly 2024 and everybody is so precious. If you act like an absolute sponge expect water to be thrown at you

      • donnytuco on 16/12/2023 - 12:29
        -5

        Thank you for decisively confirming my hypothesis!

        • digitalbath on 17/12/2023 - 13:29

          The person who is “triggered” is the borderline OP. And I’m assuming you have the same, as they like to use the “triggered” word.

    • whatgift on 18/12/2023 - 15:27
      +1

      They really don't - emergency services vehicles are driving at high speeds and need to be constantly vigilant in their duties - they should not have to spend their time thinking about whether to have the sirens on because of the neighbourhood they are in.

      I have no doubt that most people in this thread would be just as frustrated as the OP with the situation - the difference is they're not in a forum complaining about it and wanting action to be taken by emergency services.

  • Sammy Boi on 16/12/2023 - 11:14

    To put it simply if you agree with this kind of post maybe it's time you leave Australia.

    I hope the people that put their lives on the line to save others blast their sirens past your place and everybody else's that thinks OP is sane

    • ssfps on 17/12/2023 - 05:10
      -2

      OP is aussie. If you don't like his opinion, maybe you should go back to where you came from.

      • Sammy Boi on 17/12/2023 - 12:34

        I don't care what nationality OP is I care that this is Australia and morons like him should should leave

        "maybe you should go back to where you came from" Born and bred in the capital of Australia moron maybe you should take your own advice

      • Sammy Boi on 17/12/2023 - 12:42

        ssfps honestly you should piss off back to whirlpool that's exactly where you belong

        • Grunntt on 17/12/2023 - 16:30

          ssfps honestly you should piss off back to whirlpool that's exactly where you belong

          Unfortunately, it looks like some of the posts in this place is are rapidly becoming exactly like those at the Whirlpool they all love to complain about.

          Whirlpool used to be a pretty good site - same as this place used to be. We're not there yet, but some here are trying their hardest to make just as uninviting.

  • hdog on 16/12/2023 - 11:57
    +5

    I have a baby and very small children, living right near a fire depot and a hospital that has a helicopter coming and going. Sometimes the helicopter goes over so low it feels like they’re on the roof. While the noise can be annoying at times, we’re overall just grateful to be so close to those services in case we ever need them.

    We use the MyNoise app to play rain sounds all night and the kids are never bothered by any of it. Hopefully solves your problem.

    Otherwise, might just be a baby being a baby.

  • Dack Smith on 16/12/2023 - 12:42

    Troll thread mods remove please

    Idiocy can be contagious

    • mrvaluepack on 16/12/2023 - 15:24
      +2

      Use the report button!

      • Baysew on 17/12/2023 - 19:17
        +1

        Just keep in mind that this sets off a siren at Mod HQ.

  • tongu on 16/12/2023 - 14:46

    I live next to a fire station and experienced something similar when our son was an infant. It was pretty frustrating and we found no sympathy from people who haven't experienced it for themselves. As others have suggested, getting a good sound machine might help to drown out the siren noise. Best of luck, you'll get through this.

    • belongsinforums on 17/12/2023 - 18:56
      +2

      I live near a fire station. Have lived opposite a hospital for years. Helicopters flying directly above my house. But I'm not a NIMBY so I never whined on ozbargain

  • Magnastar on 16/12/2023 - 15:00
    +1

    If there’s one thing better than a great deal on Ozbargain, it’s someone who puts up a stupid forum post and gets roasted into a single post only defeat.

  • Roe Jogan on 16/12/2023 - 15:12

    you dont like it move out lil bro, its the city.. its known for noise and traffic jams and a lot of people packed into vertical structures. if you value calm and quiet than buy a penthouse on top level or move to the burbs

  • DiscoJango on 16/12/2023 - 16:03

    Next: Op buys a house in the ukraine or israel area, complains about the constant sound of gunshots.

  • Drewbo on 16/12/2023 - 18:49
    +4

    Rest assured, nobody cares about the needs of your baby apart from you.

    • ssfps on 17/12/2023 - 05:09
      -2

      You're going to be mugged in your 60s by a meth addicted 21 year old who grew up with constant sirens on the hour, and when that happens, nobody will care about your needs apart from you.

      • sakurashu on 17/12/2023 - 08:37
        +4

        Ah yes but when you are bleeding out from the knife wound they gave you, you know that emergency services will get there in time

        • ssfps on 18/12/2023 - 05:00

          Not according to their stats!

      • digitalbath on 17/12/2023 - 13:31

        Chances are the baby will probably end up as you described. But not because of sirens interrupting their sleep, but from how they are being raised by their parents.

        • ssfps on 18/12/2023 - 05:01

          It takes a village to raise a child.

          I'd say your village exposed you to too many sirens as a small child, and now we're all paying for it. I'm sorry for my part in how you turned out, digitalbath.

  • XeSSiV on 16/12/2023 - 20:29
    -3

    It's people like you that have killed Sydney's nightlife and turned it into a ghost town with your lockout and loud music laws.

  • frugalftw on 16/12/2023 - 22:49

    I’d move to a better location asap for the sake of your child if I were you. I had to stop renovation work and all my relocation plans for my newborn kittens, been living like a homeless person for over two months😅, it’s almost over now they are all going to their forever homes. Noise is not good for babies of any species… It’s worth the move, not a great place to save $$.

  • Cave Fire on 17/12/2023 - 00:03
    +1

    You could be near a dispatch station… So moved into my first city apartment and would get sirens almost on the hour. Looked on the map later and I was near two headquarters for Fire and ambulance. Got used to it eventually. Did read that it does effect things like brain development and personality for children. Best you can do is try to insulate your home or get headphones. Your neighbours probably already do things like closing windows etc.

  • Serapis on 17/12/2023 - 01:42

    Found the NIMBY

  • ssfps on 17/12/2023 - 05:06

    I've been in an ambo multiple times at night, and when the roads are clear they generally don't turn their sirens on except when running a red light.
    If the ambos in OP's area are consistently leaving their sirens on, they either have 24/7 busy traffic, or maybe the paramedics at the local depot are a bit shit.

    • WhyAmICommenting on 19/12/2023 - 03:40

      The city is all lights. Best to just leave them on.

  • drfuzzy on 17/12/2023 - 08:57
    +7

    I'm an Emergency Services vehicle residing in the city and I'm constantly getting woken up by crying babies.

  • May4th on 17/12/2023 - 09:53

    sadly we must prioritise the safety and lives of the patient, ambulance crew and roadusers/pedestrians before your sleep/comfort, it is a cruel world. move out when you can, it's not an inner city specific thing, there are plenty of inner city streets that doesn't have this problem, just need to avoid arterial roads and intersections/traffic lights

  • Haribo on 17/12/2023 - 10:08
    -5

    OP - just a heads up that your point is completely valid.

    Most people in this forum and Australia live in suburbs so don't fully understand nor encounter this issue, let alone be able to empathise with its impact.

    It's unfortunate the dim view that people have on city living and that the only solution from their mostly suburban perspective is for you to move out to join them.

    • Jabba the Hutt on 17/12/2023 - 14:32
      +1

      We live on an arterial suburban road and get countless emergency vehicles with lights and sirens throughout the day. Comes with the territory and I don't recommend it (finally moving soon, thank christ).

      The wee hours are different, though - you'll get the occasional siren but generally they'll only use their lights, because it's recognised there needs to be some balance between road safety and sleep.

      It doesn't help that our building standards didn't (and perhaps still don't) result in decent soundproofing for properties on main roads. The mid-2000s build we're in is no better in that regard than a bog standard suburban house - an apartment in the CBD can actually be far quieter.

  • KapitaneXtreme on 17/12/2023 - 11:25
    +3

    Christ parents are the absolute worst.

    • KSMLJ on 17/12/2023 - 13:05
      +1

      What did Joseph and Mary do to you?

  • plmko on 17/12/2023 - 11:55
    +1

    Really says a lot about someone. That they'd make an account and leech for 2 years without saying or contributing anything to this community. But then world does it's thing and suddenly it's outrage and everyone must listen.

  • Hcal00 on 17/12/2023 - 14:46
    +1

    In QLD the QAS and QFES are required to use their siren due to the insurance liability. QPS are different and use discretion, depending on circumstances obviously if they are going to a break and enter job they don't want to alert offenders. It might be annoying for you, but guarantee it's more annoying being in the emergency service vehicle listening to it!

  • SpicyStew on 17/12/2023 - 16:18

    next you'll complain about city light pollution

  • kouk on 17/12/2023 - 18:34
    +1

    Get a white noise night light for your baby

  • shutuptakemymoney101 on 17/12/2023 - 19:12
    +1

    Sure, let's make things difficult for emergency service workers so they are now second guessing themselves about when and where they can use their sirens to ensure they don't upset some city dwelling numpty.

    Now, let's also put ourselves in the OP's shoes where their 6 month old child has had an accident and is in urgent immediate assistance of an ambulance crew.

  • DarkOz on 18/12/2023 - 07:55
    +2

    OP is obviously discriminating against blind people. Blind people can't tell if it's day or night when driving so the sirens do help.

  • sidor351 on 18/12/2023 - 09:04

    Etymology
    The word "idiot" comes from the Greek noun ἰδιώτης idiōtēs 'a private person, individual' (as opposed to the state), 'a private citizen' (as opposed to someone with a political office), 'a common man', 'a person lacking professional skill, layman', later 'unskilled', 'ignorant', derived from the adjective ἴδιος idios 'personal' (not public, not shared).[3][4] In Latin, idiota was borrowed in the meaning 'uneducated', 'ignorant', 'common',[5] and in Late Latin came to mean 'crude, illiterate, ignorant'.[6] In French, it kept the meaning of 'illiterate', 'ignorant', and added the meaning 'stupid' in the 13th century.[7] In English, it added the meaning 'mentally deficient' in the 14th century.[2]

    Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiot

  • Wasabi Ninja on 18/12/2023 - 10:01

    Raise kids in a better environment. Be better. Do better.

  • iammarlin on 18/12/2023 - 10:50
    -1

    Bruh…

  • sir-screwball on 18/12/2023 - 12:44
    +3

    Have you considered asking the sick and dying people to stop being sick and/or dying?

  • soggypotato on 18/12/2023 - 15:24

    You should move OP

    Contrary to comments and ur experience, I went to an ed dead in midnight and only saw emergency vehicles leave using their lights so ymmv

  • qaz182 on 18/12/2023 - 17:23
    +1

    This reminds me of when people move next to a loud bar or club knowing it's there, and once they move in, petition to have it closed due to noise complaints

    • pegaxs on 24/12/2023 - 12:35
      +1

      This reminds me of a crane yard near where I worked. When it was built in the 1950's, it was about 5km out of town and with nothing around it.

      Over the next half a century (and through some very questionable council decisions of council members who owned land in the area) everything east of the road that the crane yard was on was re-zoned "residential"… town expanded and the land was subsequently subdivided and sold.

      By the early 2000's, there were houses built all along the opposite side of the road to the crane yard, packed in like sardines… and bordering on a large industrial estate… The house owners all banded together and tried to sue the council and the crane owners for allowing the crane yard to exist in a "residential location"…

      These idiots literally bought land, opposite a crane yard, that had existed there for over 50 years, and was built there because it was out in the middle of nowhere, and now the home owners want to get the crane yard moved because, quote; "It should never have been built so close to houses…"

  • Mysterious Laptop on 18/12/2023 - 18:12

    I think there needs to be a minimum post limit on the forum threads.. some of these are extremely triggering and click-baity

  • Wayne7497 on 18/12/2023 - 22:00
    +3

    Please explain how you know what job im going to with my lights and sirens on ? You dont it could be a relative of yours having an emergency, i could be going to a serious assault, a serious injury, car crash , might be pursuing a stolen vehicle, contrary to popular belief sirens are extremely annoying when your actually sitting in an emergency vehicle's in my case Police vehicles, deafening at times but i have no discretion its either lights n siren or neither thats policy. The roads being quiet makes it worse because people arent expecting a high speed vehicle in the wee hours , and not everyone sees the lights or hears the sirens on the road but many do , its for the safety of everyone including my own.

    But if it annoys you by all means when you request police fire or ambulance next time for your own emergency ask that no sirens are used n we will casually drive to your emergency at the posted speed limit. Whisper quiet for your pleasure. Of course if we are coming to your emergency think of the poor bustards emergency we are going to.

  • cashless on 18/12/2023 - 22:05

    Let’s try to be logical about this:
    I’m the first to admit that when trapped in my tin can (car), maybe distracted by music and suddenly hearing a siren, it can be very difficult to quickly establish which direction it’s coming from/going to.
    First reflex is to quickly check in all directions looking for red/blue lights & other cars getting out of the way of the emergency vehicle.
    Normally a quick visual check is enough to tell you if there’s a need to take evasive action.

    At night time it gets easier. Flashing lights are easy to see & respond to compared to during the daytime.
    Maybe an emergency vehicle needs to quickly beep, or sound a siren to get the attention of an absolute slacker or stoner. The roads are full of people like that…..
    However, continual sirens, loud audible horns are probably not that necessary at night. Maybe going through red lights or busy junctions yes, but audio is not as effective at getting attention in the dark as bright red/blue lights.

    So the OP, although being smashed in this thread, has some valid justification in asking for less noise.

    • Wayne7497 on 18/12/2023 - 22:39

      And you know all this from your valuable experience? Sorry your wrong on every point

      • cashless on 19/12/2023 - 09:24

        "you're"

  • JediNite77 on 18/12/2023 - 22:30

    Think since the OP has gone to ground they either got the response they wanted (or the acknowledgment!!!)

  • Empharand on 18/12/2023 - 22:45
    +2

    Last Seen
    1 hour 14 min ago

    I was starting to think we needed to call OP an Ambulance, but in the spirit of OP's post they wouldn't use sirens

  • mindurbiz on 18/12/2023 - 23:03
    +2

    Emergency services vol here

    You'd be surprised the number of people, day or night, with lights, sirens and airhorns approaching behind them, FAIL to move out of the way

    A subset of drivers are just absolutely oblivious to what's going on around them

    The road rules act doesn't stipulate that we need to turn off sirens at any time, but most of us do out of courtesy
    Keep in mind though, if we are going lights and sirens, it's because its an emergency

    Imagine if you were in an emergency and we didn't use the provisions under the Rules to get to you efficiently

  • dpk91 on 18/12/2023 - 23:47
    -7

    Thanks all for your comments. A few I really cannot argue with and are fair (especially the one “live in the city - complains about noise” - ha fair comment). A lot of really unnecessary responses also such as question my partner and my ability to raise a child, telling us to leave Oz, etc. And no we can’t all live on acreage. But I also realise keyboard warriors are up there with humanities finest and I put myself in the ring with you. So more fool me.

    Ofc I do not want people who need emergency service at night to miss out because of the situation we are in. And I thank all the emergency services for all their work. Fair play, not I job I could/want to do.

    A few people have spoken about discretion and I suppose this is what I’d like a little more of. I should have put in my post more about the situation. The street after 9pm is extremely quiet with almost no traffic on it - till I’d say around 6am when the morning traffic starts getting going. If the road is empty who are they alerting with their sirens. There is a junction with lights potentially 500m up the road with buildings on 3 of the 4 corners making it difficult to approach from most directions as a Emergency services driver wouldn’t be able to see round those corners (100% see the need to sirens at this junction).

    We have double glazing (although we do have a maintenance request in with our landlord to get the windows sealed proper) and a white noise machine.

    • rumblytangara on 19/12/2023 - 00:20

      Are the sirens a new thing, or have then been like this the whole time you've lived in the place?

    • Wayne7497 on 19/12/2023 - 02:01
      +4

      Who are they alerting ? Road users, pedestrians, other emergency services awaiting, the calming affect on those calling for emergency services knowing their not far away, we have no way of knowing whos where and what try driving at high speeds it only takes 1 car to pull out.

      What do you think us emergency services think woohoo lets put our sirens on to upset people. I don't like doing emergency driving, no enjoyment out of lights n sirens, it's the constant threat of an accident happening, but those minutes I saved through my driving have saved dozens of lives. That's why I did it..

      You also assume people actually see emergency flashing lights at night, I can tell you lots don't, I've literally sat behind cars lights n sirens going trying to get past , n nope Nada. Few I followed up and its always "I'm sorry I didn't see or hear you " is normal response.

      Fair go i really sometimes i just dont understand what or why i risked my life for in 35yrs ..n the long list of injuries ive gotten 3 from emergency driving , never ever had i heard of complaint about sirens not ever ppl knew what meant n why.. but i guess its all about me me me.. now.

    • Randolph Duke on 19/12/2023 - 08:01

      A few people have spoken about discretion and I suppose this is what I’d like a little more of.

      Emergency services should have a register where people can ask input their address for consideration, and walkers at night can wear a GPS device so act as a proximity meter.

  • Amanda3724 on 19/12/2023 - 05:38

    Culturally in Australia there’s a determination to prosecute emergency services workers involved in any incident where the public come a cropper - even if caused by the public’s own criminality or stupidity. There are strict policies in place within those services to protect the senior management from criticism/career stagnation so the workers at the coal face follow those policies to the best of their ability to avoid prosecution. Unfortunately, sometimes complying with those policies causes inconvenience to members of the public, such as driving with sirens on when some members of the public believe it is unnecessary.

  • zombie hunter on 19/12/2023 - 07:39
    +3

    Suck it up princess

  • belongsinforums on 19/12/2023 - 12:12

    wow its actually not a troll post

    • digitalbath on 19/12/2023 - 16:56
      +2

      No. Just an idiotic post by a self entitled lunatic.

  • DontNeedThis on 19/12/2023 - 12:16

    You're not alone. My parents have been living with me for a couple of months now, and it's really bothering them. They can't sleep.

  • Vasilly6 on 19/12/2023 - 15:41
    +1

    I work at a few inner city fire stations in a major Australian city so can shed some light on your question.

    Every shift and crew does things differently however, the majority of incidents we attend during the night we would make an attempt to only use lights and sirens when approaching intersections and around other road users and switch back to lights around that.

    Saying that as a pump driver if I had an accident driving with only lights I would need a very good reason why wasn't using sirens.

    We are encouraged to use lights and sirens at all times but can turn sirens off when we deem it safe to do so.

  • Fizzydrink on 19/12/2023 - 16:10

    Gotta have a siren on to cross a red traffic light?

  • fatpizza on 19/12/2023 - 17:20
    +1

    How is it possible that no-one has made a 'Waambulance' joke yet!!!???

  • R4 on 19/12/2023 - 17:24

    Total and utter bollox about UK emergency services not using sirens at night.

    I lived there for 10 years and very much heard sirens after dark. We had cause to call an ambulance one night and it turned up with sirens blaring - and rightly so!

    • rumblytangara on 20/12/2023 - 18:01
      +1

      Wasn't there some troll a couple months back saying that people could speed in the UK and not get pulled over?

      What is it about people who want to complain about something, so they chose some country on the other side of the planet that they know nothing about, and say "see it's different there!!1"

  • YodaBaby on 20/12/2023 - 07:07

    Ridiculous post.

  • frostee on 20/12/2023 - 09:12

    Lots of critical comments in here but its not entirely unresolvable. As a firey we avoid using our siren when its dark wherever possible - maybe a general courtesy thing rather than any official policy. If you know that its cops/firies/ambos, I think a carefully worded email to the station would be okay tbh.

  • Morien on 05/01/2024 - 14:10

    As someone who has been in the unfortunate position of needing those emergency services…. may your sleep be disrupted.

    (Point of clarity, I have lived on a VERY busy street for 32 years of my life. You'll get used to it.)

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