Car noises in radio ads

[Bronzebow]

Who in their right mind thinks it's a good idea to blare police/ambulance sirens, truck horns, squealing wheels and impact noises on the radio? If you're looking to catch people's attention, well...you're sure doing something with their focus.

There was a Louisiana drunk driving radio ad a month back that featured the entire soundtrack of a car wreck: the wheels screeching on the road, the crunch of metal, the car horns. All, of course, to show you what would happen if you drink an drive. And of course, there was no warning going into the thing. The sounds just started playing at the beginning of the commercial, so there was no real context until a few seconds in.

Car dealerships are a huge offender with the car/truck horn sound effect at the beginning. If it weren't for NPR, I'd probably just turn the radio off on half my trips from that alone.

I was mildly annoyed by this until I hit a radio ad that played a siren while a policeman was tailgating me. Took a few moments to realize what had happened, and that kind of distraction is not what you want on the highway...with a policeman tailgating you.

[HYHYBT]

I'd forgotten about those! They must have become more common in the last seven years or so. Car radio + cassette adapter + iPod or laptop = Car Talk + Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! + Audiobooks = peaceful driving

[XCashier]

It is annoying, and potentially dangerous. I'm sure many wrecks and near-wrecks have been caused by hearing screeching brakes or sirens on the radio.

[powerboy]

I'd forgotten about those! They must have become more common in the last seven years or so. Car radio + cassette adapter + iPod or laptop = Car Talk + Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! + Audiobooks = peaceful driving

I use my Zune or my phone to listen to music. But I hate those noises. I onced pulled over because I thought a cop was behind me. I looked in the rear view and saw a black car that looked like one

[Stormraven]

It's hardly new - Jethro Tull did a siren in War Child. It's not exactly a police siren, but it's close enough.

[blas87]

One night a few months ago, bf and I went to get a pizza, since he lives too far out of town for delivery.

We were on the main drag of the city, listening to the radio. All of a sudden it went quiet, and then a WEEEEOOOOOOOOWEEEEOOOOOWEOOOOO sound was heard. Out of reflex, I hit the brakes and tried to look all around for where the ambulance was, and so was bf. We were both like "What the hell is going on?!"

We didn't see one anywhere. Sure enough, it was the stupid intro to the late night radio show. Assholes.