DC police cars are now outfitted with new toys called “Rumblers”, which literally shake the ground with low-frequency sound waves, to get your attention (in addition to the car’s light and sound sirens) when they’re headed your way. According to The Washington Post in, “With New Device, Police Shake, Rattle and Roll“, 49 DC police cars currently sport the latest device. “It vibrates everything,” said DC police officer Lou Schneider. The DC police department claims that it can be felt from about 200 feet away. They also believe:
…that it will be helpful for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. ‘Vibrating sirens is an interesting idea, and it could benefit all drivers, not just deaf drivers,’ agreed Erin Casler, a spokeswoman for Gallaudet University.
I applaud this effort to get drivers to pay better attention to speeding police cars, but more importantly I am encouraged by the DC police department’s effort to consider the possible benefits to the deaf and hard of hearing community. So the next time you feel that shaking feeling in your car while in DC, swivel your head around because it may be the police. If it is, better hope that Sheriff John Brown isn’t coming for you!
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Interesting - I wonder how difficult the transition is going to be, from looking for your pager to looking for police the next time you get a vibrating feeling. I also hope it doesn’t scare women into thinking that police is at the door when they’re -ahem- enjoying specific toys.
Don’t stereotype women :). Men do have vibrating sex toys too. But other than that, funny comment :). Yeah it will be a very interesting transition, indeed!
I also noticed the reference to Erin Casler at the tail end of the article.
But in general, it’s always a good thing for the beat in the police cars to reach everyone, and not just Deaf.
But let’s face it, it’s a conspiracy to make us all Deaf. :->
I second this reference to Erin Casler. She’s a hottie!
Vibrations are a nice way to get a Deaf driver’s attention…but the most important thing is, once they’ve got our attention, are they prepared to communicate with some of us via paper/pen and not assume the worst?
I rather wait and see how effective the “Rumblers” are for deaf bystanders and drivers. I have to “test-run” the new police technology to give thumb up or down.
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
Thanks for volunteering. Now, run through a red light and let us know of your thoughts. By the way, don’t just pull over right away since it would be better to speed away from the police car so you can determine the distance that the vibrations cover.
yes and also try to get on the highway too and see if you can feel it in high speed as well.
I got a little chuckle out of this article. Vibrating sensor to help us but that’s good they are doing something to benefit the deaf community. Same time, I put down an aw shucks means I will definitely get pulled over and ticketed no matter what!!
At night…the lights are quite effective for me but during the day… not quite so this is a good thing plus many of us are not aware there is a speeding police car trying to pass us to go to a crime scene so this would be a helpful toy to inform us to move!!!
Pity those deaf residents who live on streets where police cars might go “buzzing” past. Side effects of that could be sleeplessness from waking up at all hours thinking the alarm buzzer is going off, becoming insensitive to the buzzing of pagers and missing important calls, and perhaps even ducking thinking a low-flying plane is about to take the roof off. I hope people in DC let us know soon if that is the situation.
LOL, it brought back my memory. One day I was stuck in traffic jam in DC. Then I noticed almost all cars in front of me pulling over to either right or left curbside. It gave me a clear way and I drove by the cars with my broad smile as if Moses parted the Red Sea for me to pass through traffic jam. Next minute I looked at my rearview mirror and almost fainted to see that a firetruck were about one foot from behind me, blaring sirens! I immediately pulled over! You can imagine how embarassed I was feeling like a BIG fool!
I hope this new toy will be helpful. Let’s wait and seeeeee to prevent any further embarassments!
Yours seem to be worse than mine, but let me tell mine…
Once I was driving on a rather crowded two lanes road, I saw a vehicle coming real close to me through my rear mirror. I decided not to speed up nor slow down, just the same, due to the crowded road, not willing to give in for that vehicle. It was like that for a while until this vehicle decided to slow down and let ME see the flashing lights on that vehicle. I, too, almost fainted when I saw that, and I had to move over and slowed down. This vehicle went away… the police car. Whew!
deafk
Wouldn’t female drivers be aroused by the rumblers? I’m assuming that their “money-spot” (namely, the clitoris) would be stimulated by the vibrations since it is in near contact with the car seat which, no doubt, would be vibrating.
I’d be interested to see how they’re (the cops) gonna know the driver is deaf in the first place in order to decide to use the Rumbler or not. The way it sounds right now, they’re probably just planning to use it with all drivers who don’t appear to notice the siren/lights and then if those drivers turn out to be deaf after the fact, great, it benefits the deaf community. If they’re just spaced-out hearing people, on the other hand, well, then it benefits spaced-out hearing people too.
I only mention this because if they have a procedure or something in which they run the license plate number and then figure out from that somehow that the driver might be deaf, hence it’s Rumbler time… well… I wonder if a lot more cops shouldn’t be using that procedure. Then we don’t have to worry about whether or not they’re aware that we’re deaf.
Chris, as far as I know, states don’t put that kind of information in their database (i.e., that the driver is deaf).
My driver’s license doesn’t even mention anything about me being Deaf.
Wrong. The database has a field where one could enter special notes regarding a subject. “deaf, use text to communicate” - (Iowa Police).
The database would also contain your criminal history. I know that information is not displayed on your driver’s license.
You said “COULD”….I take it it is dependent on the typist and not necessarily part of daily routine?
I wonder if they will use those rumblers out in California and the deaf people will think that the earthquake is doing the rumbling?
Comment »
I am quite concerned about the possibility of structural damages within DC historic buildings and other residences from the use of DC MPD’s “Rumblers”.
I wonder why the spokeperson from Gallaudet University acted like the spokeperson for the entire DC metropolitian area deaf community. Hearing people in DC area need to understand that the Gallaudet University do not represent the entire deaf people in DC area.
Gallaudet University have their own problems. Let the deaf people in DC metro area representing themselves and speak on issues. The spokeperson of Gallaudet University ought to know BETTER than taking up questions from the media and public what the deaf community in DC metro area THINK, etc.
What about the DCAD and deaf individual represent on the DC MPD’s Advisory Board?? What about the DC MPD’s Deaf Liaison representative? Do we really have anyone deaf represent the DC Deaf Community on the DC MPD’s Advisory Board? If yes, who represent us on the DC MPD’s Advisory Board?
It’s time for more deaf people to be wholly represented to the DC Metro’s general public, not only the Gallaudet University!
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
Are you lonely RLM? your comments sometimes are out of whack! Not only on this blog but others.
If the police’s new toy would cause structural damage to buildings, they would not approve of it!!! Hearing community are not familiar on who to contact in the deaf community. If hearing community needed feedbacks on how to improve quality in deaf community what other place other than Gallaudet can they go to in DC area? I think Gallaudet is a good place to recieve feedbacks!
I do not believe they chose to be spokesperson but I believe they were ASKED for their opinions and they gave it. If there is an organization that represents Deaf community in DC then they should make themselves heard and be contacted by the city or inform the City Commissions office and other office there is such an organization that represents Deaf community in the DC area and also let Gallaudet be aware of such organization that represents DC metro areas in and out of Gally campus!
First of all, I am not lonely as some people think. I just give my personal opinion on this issue.
I strongly disagree that Gallaudet University ought to give any kind of opinions regarding the lives of deaf DC citizens. People in DC metro area need to undertand and learn that there are other deaf organizations and contact them!
I am not only a deaf person, who express concerns about almost everyone look up to Gallaudet University for any kind of answers regarding deaf people. Dr. Barbara Kannappell is one of them, she once expressed annoyance about “Gallaudet is being a mother to the deaf DC community as everyone rely upon Gallaudet University for any answers too much” That is not an exact quote, Dr. Kannappell make pretty long time ago.
I checked out DCAD website yesterday morning and found out that it had all obselete information and no immediate contacts for any organizational officers. Ever no updated info since 2006.
You would be really surprised that many products never have been pre-tested. I am sure that the DC MPD police did not think of any possibilty of structural damage with the use of “Rumblers”. Let’s wait and see what will happen with DC residents uproar in their arms about the “Rumblers”.
I want to emphasize again that I am not lonely at all. I rather spend outside within gorgeous sunny day than replying to any comments or blogsites.
You use anyomonous online alias, instead of your real name. I guess that I better off with the use of pretenious online alias.
FYI, some comments on other blogs and DeafDC.com, I did not write those comments. Someone did. Comprendo?
RLM
Perhaps you should stop using your real full name so someone that knows you would not use your name!! How do you know I’m not using my real name? Just cuz I did not add my last name like you do does not mean it’s not my first name!
I was being sarcastic about you being lonely. I did not mean it literally but you take things as you see rather than what’s outside the box. I guess you are right, Gallaudet should not be the one hearing community approach for questioning. They should come to you, you always know what to do or say or feel and your opinions are right.
You keep ranting and ranting about this “I strongly disagree that Gallaudet University ought to give any kind of opinions regarding the lives of deaf DC citizens. People in DC metro area need to undertand and learn that there are other deaf organizations and contact them!”
SOOOO TELLL US WHAT ARE OTHER DEAF ORGANIZATIONS CAN OR SHOULD THEY CONTACT?????
Michael,
We could see how apathetic of local DC metro deaf organizations really are!
The Metropolitian Washington Deaf Community Center (MWDCC) has no longer updated any info on her website - http://www.mwdcc.org
DC Deaf Association of the Deaf (DCAD) - unknown permanent website which the DeafDC supposedly run its website via contract agreement.
Northern Virginia Resource Center (NVRC) is only the main organization of the deaf regularly update her website - http://www.nvrc.org
Of course, paid staffers on NVRC have time and resources to insert all the following information regarding the metro DC deaf community events and related information as compared to other non-profit deaf organizations with “volunteer” officers.
How come didn’t DC have her own Deaf Commission of the Deaf?
For God’s sake, the metropolitian DC area’s deaf community do not have their own community center and commission of the deaf within their adjoined locations!
There are appx. 500,000 deaf people living in DC metro area as what the NVRC provide the latest statistic info few years ago.
RLM
I would not have any problems if Gallaudet University give out related information to the issue of deaf education or linguistics of the deaf depend upon department itself.
RLM
DC Mayor’s Commission on Persons with Disabilities:
http://rsa.dhs.dc.gov/rsa/cwp/.....12,rsaNav,|32960|.asp
Researcher,
FYI, You submit the unworkable link to the DC Mayor’s Commission on Persons with Disabilities.
People could simply log on to http://www.dc.gov and type “Commmission on Persons with Disabilties” which one local deaf organization, DeafReach is a member of the commission.
DeafReach never reach out to the entire DC metro deaf community to see what we, deaf people want for the city of DC and adjoined metro.
Many members are consisted of organizations serving individuals with mental health and severe disabilities. This commission is under the Rehabilation Service Adminstration (RSA) which known as the VR. Why should the commission be under the RSA?
I was a member of the commission for two years in early 1990s. The commission done NOTHING! Just always discussed on the creation of organizational bylaws. I left the commission. Another deaf person got interested in getting involved with the DC Mayor’s Commission on Person with Disabilities five years later and told me “same thing” what the commission have done - still discussing over the creation of bylaws. What they were doing so far??? Just ton of crap!
How come didn’t DC Association of the Deaf get involved with this commission. The members and officers surely know that would be not worthy of their time to spend with the commission.
I was appointed by DC Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly as some people recommended me to serve on this commission. We need real action and leadership. Many deaf people do not consider themselves “disabled” anyway. Me, too!
Robert L. Mason (RLM)