Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Won't Miss #130 - shouting from emergency vehicles


Emergency vehicles in Japan, such as ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars, are equipped with the same loud sirens and flashing lights that those back home have. For some reason, these very obvious notifications to those on the road are insufficient to get cars to pull out of the way. Every emergency vehicle that passes through also seems to feel it is necessary for someone in it to shout on a loudspeaker constantly and tell people to get out of the way. I don't understand the necessity of constantly yelling instructions when the siren alone should be doing the job. I don't believe Japanese people are too stupid to understand the simple notion of, "if you hear a siren, then get out of the way," so I regard this as unnecessary on the part of emergency personnel.

I won't miss this pointless contribution to the already oppressive noise pollution.