Durham Fire Department installs new sirens to get drivers' attention
First responders are trying to get your attention on the road to save time in an emergency.
Statewide and in counties throughout the Triangle area, there has been an increase of drivers facing misdemeanor charges for failing to yield to emergency vehicles, according to the State Administrative Office of the Courts’ annual reports dating back to 2018.
"It's an epidemic,” said Durham Fire Chief Robert Zoldos. “People are distracted in their cars.
“They're not driving 1960s cars, which sirens easily penetrate. The cars are very soundproofed, and there's a lot in there to distract them."
Zoldos said the Durham Fire Department has maximized the lighting footprint on large trucks and added new sirens. It's the smaller squad trucks and chiefs' vehicles, which are harder to see, that are getting stuck on the roads.
“They provide firefighting service, they go to automobile accidents, they provide advanced emergency medical service as well,” Zoldos said of smaller squad trucks.
Also, the squad trucks now use a new siren called "The Hammer."
"You'll be in your car in front, and you'll actually feel the vibration of that sound,” Zoldos said. “What we're hoping that it does, is that you'll feel the vibration, look up in your mirror and see the lights and go, ‘Hey, it's the fire department, they're here to help people. I'll move over to the right.’”
State, county data shows increase in misdemeanors for failure to heed to a light or siren
According to the State Administrative Office of the Courts’ annual reports, the state and several counties are showing an increase in misdemeanors for failure to heed to a light or siren:
2021-22
- Statewide: 1,572
- Cumberland County: 28
- Durham County: 9
- Johnston County: 42
- Wake County: 103
2020-2021
- Statewide: 1,544
- Cumberland County: 30
- Durham County: 7
- Johnston County: 29
- Wake County: 64
2019-2020
- Statewide: 1,411
- Cumberland County: 30
- Durham County: 7
- Johnston County: 29
- Wake County: 64
2018-2019
- Statewide: 1,489
- Cumberland County: 31
- Durham County: 13
- Johnston County: 48
- Wake County: 63
The number of drivers charged with misdemeanor failure to heed lights or sirens has increased by about 6% over the last five years statewide.
Durham has remained mostly steady, but Wake County has seen a major increase. Wake County's 2021-2022 numbers were up 63% over the previous year.
Zoldos says the new technology has been effective, but drivers need to keep an eye and ear out for first responders.
"I think it is really an issue. and I think some of it though is innocent,” Zoldos said. “They don't hear us, and that's why you'll see us try new things."
WRAL News reached out to other departments in central North Carolina. Raleigh police have sirens that can switch tones to get attention. Durham County EMS has also been using dual pitch sirens for years.
