New Bill Proposes Siren Change in New York City

The streets of New York City may start to sound a little more like London. New legislation from Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal of the Upper West Side would change the sirens on ambulances and fire trucks across the city to a high-low pitch, like those used in Europe.

Rosenthal said her constituents have been asking for this for a while.

“When I started in office one of the biggest complaints I heard… was the loud noise of sirens, and people would say it kept them up at night and the pitch was too high, and was there anything we could do about it.”

Ambulances from Mount Sinai hospital have already been using the new sirens for the past few years, but there have been mixed reviews, said Rosenthal.

“Some people haven't gotten used to the high-low pitch, so they would prefer we not do the switch. But others have come in so relieved and so appreciative that the constant high wailing noise is gone.”

Rosenthal said she’s looking forward to hearing what New Yorkers have to say on the issue in the coming weeks.