Police sirens after midnight

[lavender27]

Is Lordship Lane very busy at this time (2am). Police sirens being used, what's the law if there is one for using the sirens in the small hours when there is no traffic or people about?

[rendelharris]

There isn't one, they can use them any time provided they're responding to an emergency.

[Help-Ma-Boab]

I might find it slightly reassuring if I was getting paggerede at 2.00am to hear sirens in the distance, getting louder. It may even cause the beating to stop and the radges to run away.

[Jeremy]

If the roads are quiet, then they'll probably be building up quite a bit of speed.. so perhaps it's just as well they're warning people!

I think we have to trust their judgement.

[rendelharris]

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> If the roads are quiet, then they'll probably be

> building up quite a bit of speed.. so perhaps it's

> just as well they're warning people!

>

> I think we have to trust their judgement.

Yep - some force up north, can't recall which one, instituted a policy of being as quiet as reasonably possible a couple of years back but scrapped it when a woman was run down and killed at night stepping out in front of a vehicle which didn't have its siren on.

We used to live on Denmark Hill so got the sirens all day and all night, not to mention the air ambulance coming in to land; even if they woke me I consoled myself with the thought that they were on their way to help someone. Now if something could be done about thumping drum & bass from cars after midnight (or indeed at any time)I'd be all for that!

[JohnL]

or beeping because the traffic lights are broken.

and the solution might be mend the lights :)

[Penguin68]

Whilst blue lights are much more visible after dark, anybody who is visually impaired will be much less able to see them, or to distinguish them as emergency vehicles (and there is a local home for the visually impaired in East Dulwich). The sound of a siren approaching may also be of comfort and support to either a victim or somebody who has called for support. In the early hours (and where there are clubs and pubs) pedestrians may have drink taken and be less cautious in their road use. All of this suggests that though annoying, blues and twos rather than just blues may be the right late-night decision for emergency vehicle drivers.

[DulwichFox]

I think the Police use them if their Kebabs or Chips are getting cold.. :)

Foxy

[lavender27]

The police sirens at this time are spoiling the dawn chorus.

[lavender27]

Maybe they can bring me a kebab and chips. Ha