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A series of direction determination experiments has been performed to evaluate the extent to which automobile drivers can locate audible warning devices of emergency vehicles. Blindfolded subjects were required to indicate the perceived position of a siren, first in an open space and, secondly, while seated in an idling automobile with the windows both open and closed. For the open-air control case, the direction of the siren was correctly indicated to be in the appropriate 45° sector for 91% of the test presentations. With the subject seated in the automobiles, the identification of the correct location fell to 37.6% with the passenger window open and 26% with the windows closed. Based on an analysis of the results and the magnitude of the errors, it is concluded that aural localization for the directional identification of emergency vehicles is not practicable. [Work supported by the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.]

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