Monday, Jun. 14, 2010
Car Alarms
Not only is the sound of a car alarm annoying, but the alarm itself is increasingly ineffective. Because some car-alarm systems are sensitive to even the slightest nearby provocation, they can go off multiple times depending on how highly trafficked the area is. The more they go off, the less people pay attention to them. In cities like New York, citizens have lobbied to get car alarms banned, citing noise pollution and ineffectiveness. Police departments across the nation recommend other, more effective (and quieter) forms of security, including pager systems that alert the car owner personally if their vehicle is disturbed. Steering-wheel and brake-pedal locks are also cheaper alternatives that prove much better at warding off theft.