Voice versus Bleep

The Story of Reversing Bleepers

 

Once upon a time...

 

bleepers were fitted to motorcycles as an audible reminder to the rider that the bike’s direction indicators were operating.

 

Now this piercing sound was effective in overcoming the bike’s engine noise and penetrating the rider’s helmet, but of course everyone around could also hear the noise.

 

Then one day someone had the idea of putting bleepers onto Pelican Crossings as a “safe-to-cross” sound.

 

Since one bleeping sound is much the same as another, unfortunate pedestrians waited for the bleep, crossed the road and were promptly mown down by approaching motorcycles.

 

To remedy the problem the bleepers were removed from the motorcycles and promptly fitted to commercial vehicles as reversing alarms!

 

Is it really a surprise that pedestrians step out behind reversing vehicles?

 

What’s wrong with Bleepers?

 

Fact is bleepers have a number of disadvantages.

 

• The meaning of a bleeper is not readily understood and can lead to confusion. Just take a look at the “Story of Reversing Bleepers” opposite.

 

• The sound of a bleeper is not directional and its source is difficult to locate.

 

• The sound from a bleeper carries for considerable distances and can cause significant noise nuisance leading to complaints.

 

• The bleeper sound is usually ignored and therefore totally ineffective.

 

The bleeper is now widely viewed as nothing more than a low-cost attempt to demonstrate that at least some safety precautions have been taken on vehicles.

 

Even some bleeper manufacturers are trying to move away from bleepers and offer alternative products.

 

What’s good about Voice?

 

Fact is the human voice is the most effective means of audible communication. We are talking about a real human voice, not a robotic computer synthesised voice.

 

• An authoritive voice commands attention and simply cannot be ignored.

 

• The message is specific and cannot be confused with any other sound.

 

• It can deliver a precise warning, such as “this vehicle is reversing”

 

• The voice can give a clear instruction, such as “driver...apply the handbrake”

 

• The human voice is directional and immediately identifies the location of the danger. With no thinking time it produces an instant response.

 

• The sound of the human voice dissipates over a short distance and does not cause noise nuisance or confusion in irrelevant locations i.e. it can be heard only where it matters.

 

• The voice may be in any language or combination of languages e.g. English and Welsh.

 

No other product or technology can communicate as effectively, with immediate understanding and instant response in critical safety applications.