Lights & Sirens

Ambulances in Malaysia are in a dilemma. First of all, these life saving vehicles are mistaken to be equal to a hearse. Many think of them as the same. Both carry the deceased don’t they?

That’s incorrect!! People die while being transferred in the ambulance, yes but the ambulances does not ferry the already deceased. Hearses do. So how can an ambulance be equal to a hearse?

An ambulance is equipped with life saving tools and manned my people trained to safe life. Hearses are equipped to conduct funerals and staffed by people who are trained in bereavement. People confuse because both the vehicle as they some times look almost the same.

In Malaysia ambulances and now hearses are also built on commercial van chassis and most importantly they are also installed with beacon lights. An ambulance usually uses the red or the red and blue beacon light in combination, whereas hearses use amber beacon light. But why do hearses need beacon light, in the first place?

The confusion is worsen, as hearses now, are being installed with emergency siren warning system, just like the ones in the ambulances. Now why would a hearse need siren warning system? Aren’t the uses of beacon lights and emergency siren systems regulated by the Department of Road Transport?

Can anyone use a beacon light and emergency siren accessories in any vehicle and get special treatment on the roads. Aren't they suppost to be used for emergencies only? Emergency siren system should be made exclusive to emergency vehicles such as the police, fire department, ambulances, disaster response vehicles, military and governments enforcement agencies.

The beacon light system can be used by others relevant service providers, not to gain the right of way, but to warn other road user of potential danger. The colors of the beacon lights should be regulated and enforced. For example, the of blue and red beacon lights to be used by emergency vehicles, while amber and green for others such as tow trucks and heavy vehicles.

This will eliminate the confusion and help road users give way by distinguishing emergency vehicles from the non-emergency vehicles, otherwise the emergency beacon and siren system, which is the symbol of urgency during emergencies, will loose its value.