Subsequent tone horn

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An acoustic device on vehicles that emits several signal tones of different basic frequencies in succession is generally referred to as a subsequent tone horn (sometimes also as a tone sequence horn ) .

In Europe, this is understood to be part of the warning system. This facility - it is forbidden for private use - is called a special signaling system in Germany and is used in the authorized (emergency) vehicles of certain authorities and organizations with security tasks , including aid organizations . It is also the name operational or sirens used.

A specific sequence of tones is generated that warns other road users and is intended to cause the emergency vehicle to move freely . When driving with the following tone horn, this is always combined with blue light in most countries . Special switches are intended to prevent the acoustic warning device from being used without blue light, while blue light can be operated alone without the acoustic tone sequence.

Generation of the tone sequence

Compressed air-operated following tone horn

The generation of the tone sequence can be solved in different ways:

Germany

The basis for sound systems that generate the "special signal" is Section 55 (3) sentence 1 StVZO (Road Traffic Licensing Regulations):

"(3) Motor vehicles that have beacons for blue flashing lights on the basis of Section 52 (3) must be equipped with at least one warning device with a sequence of sounds of different basic frequencies (emergency horn)."

In Germany , the execution of the following tone horn  is regulated by DIN 14610. The pitch of different horns may differ, but must be between 360 Hz (approx. F sharp ′) and 630 Hz (approx. Dis ″). The tone interval must be a perfect fourth (for example: a ′ and d ″). If available, the standard also provides for two different signals for use in the country (often in the 362–483 Hz frequency range) and in the city (often in the 410–547 Hz frequency range), correspondingly the setting is "Landhorn" or "Stadthorn" .

Special rights , such as exceeding the speed or driving outside of the specified lanes or directions, can also be exercised without the use of blue lights and the following tone horn, but are particularly restrictive because of the possible risk to other road users.

The wail signal was temporarily tested in Erfurt, Sömmerda and Weimar , but without a permit. Since it is not an official DIN special signal, its use in Germany is prohibited. Due to a legal regulation, the Yelp signal is used in several German federal states . Its purpose, however, is not to demand the right of way , but to encourage a vehicle in front to stop.

Martin Horn / Martinshorn

Martin horn and also popularly Martinshorn are common names for the following tone horn, especially in Germany. The name is derived from the company Deutsche Signal-Instrumenten-Fabrik Max B. Martin , a manufacturer of compressor tone sequence systems based in Philippsburg ; Martin-Horn is protected as a word mark .

The company for hunting horns and cavalry trumpets , which was founded in Markneukirchen in the Vogtland region of Musikwinkel in 1880, and which started again in Philippsburg after the expropriation in the GDR in 1950 , had developed a multi-tone horn in 1932 together with the police and fire brigades , which was subsequently required by law for emergency vehicles has been. Since the production was the exclusive responsibility of the Martin company until the Second World War , the name “Martin horn” became a synonym for consecutive tone horns. With the Martin horn, a single macro microphone is used for each tone , which can also be used individually on locomotives, for example.

Origin of the two-tone

There are several hypotheses about the historical origin of the typical two-tone sound. On the one hand, the hunting signal "Halt" (c'-g ') is mentioned as a possible explanation. Another hypothesis traces the sequence of sounds back to the cavalry's horn signal for " Clear the road!" With this signal, mounted units were requested to clear the road they were using for other forces to overtake or pass by. Here the basic meaning of the signal corresponded to that of the following tone horn.

Austria

In contrast to Germany, in Austria it is not absolutely necessary to use blue light and the following tone horn together during emergency trips. It is sufficient to use one of these signals. Usually the blue light is used alone and, in difficult traffic situations, the secondary horn is used as well. The sole use of the blue light in such situations can also be interpreted as "insufficient" in the event of damage. The (theoretically possible) use of emergency horns without blue light is only practiced by civilian police vehicles and rarely occurs in practice.

In Austria it is also possible to assign emergency vehicles based on their tone sequence: Rescue , fire brigade and police as well as other services (energy suppliers, transport companies etc.) use different tone sequences for their emergency vehicles: police (Tatüü-Tatütatütatüü), rescue ("Tüütaa Tüütaa") ) and fire brigade ("Tatüü Tatüü"). These tone sequences have become common, but there are no legally regulated, predetermined tone sequences for these emergency services.

Apart from the following tone horn for emergency vehicles, the emission of tone sequences is prohibited. There is only one exception to the postal service bus : These may use the tone sequence a-f sharp-ad (“ Posthorn ”, “Tatü tatu”,) as a normal horn signal. The tone sequence is only used for vintage bus trips by the postal service. In Switzerland (same tones) and Liechtenstein it is still used on mountain post roads.

The attachment of consecutive tone horns is regulated in § 22 Paragraph 4–6 KFG. It should be noted that if a blue light is not already allowed to be attached to the vehicle in accordance with Section 20 (1) no. 4 KFG without your own approval, a permit for the secondary horn in addition to the blue light must be applied for and approved by the responsible governor . The same prerequisites for issuing a permit apply as for issuing a blue light (Section 22 (4) KFG, last sentence, see also rotating beacon - Austria ). However, if a permit is available, the installation of the following tone horn does not have to be separately indicated and approved as a change to the vehicle.

Switzerland

Switzerland uses cis' – gis' for emergency vehicles.

Starkton-Wechselklanghorn (bus)

In the post buses and other bus companies that operate on routes which as Bergpost roads are signaled, the sound sequence cis'-e-a is used. This tüü taa too tone sequence from the overture to Rossini's opera Wilhelm Tell has been used there since 1924. The signal is mainly installed in vehicles that are used in the pre-Alpine and Alpine areas. It is most often used on mountain post roads. Vehicles in which the three-tone horn is installed have the corresponding proof in the vehicle documents.

Liechtenstein

The use of a rotating beacon is in Liechtenstein to combine with the approved emergency vehicles not necessarily with a siren. The rotating beacon can also be used alone.

Emergency vehicles with blue lights are to be provided with an alternating two-tone horn. Vehicles in regular Postbus traffic on mountain roads may have an alternating three-tone horn (Art 82, Paragraph 2 VTS).

The use of other sound generators and on private vehicles (especially sirens , other yelling warning devices, fantasy signals such as church bells , bells and animal voices as well as exhaust horns as well as the use of external loudspeakers (with exceptions)) are prohibited in Liechtenstein (Art 82 Para. 3 and 4 VTS ).

Historical

In the southern countries in particular, private use of consecutive tone horns was allowed until the 1970s. Above all, striking short melodies were played. The opening bars of the River Kwai March or La Cucaracha were popular . In Cuba you can still hear these tone sequences in private cars. Mostly it was compressor horns that controlled up to five horns with a rotating disc.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Data sheet from Hella KGaA & Co. , accessed on docs.google.com on August 5, 2012
  2. ↑ See also I. Clause 1 of the administrative regulation for road traffic regulations to § 35 StVO: “When driving where not all regulations can be complied with, the use of special rights should, if possible and permissible, by means of a blue flashing light together with the emergency horn are displayed."
  3. ↑ www.rettungsdienst.de - Special signal: Howling prohibited ( Memento from February 27, 2011 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on February 24, 2011
  4. ↑ Deutsche Signal Instrumenten Fabrik Max B. Martin GmbH & Co. KG ... the original!
  5. ↑ § 2 (1) Z 25 StVO
  6. ↑ Court decision on the emergency trip: following tone horn in the intersection area? Retrieved November 11, 2015 .
  7. ↑ Tone sequences of emergency vehicles Austria played on a keyboard (YouTube)
  8. ↑ Everything, just not a - f sharp - a - d. orf.at, accessed February 4, 2014 .
  9. ↑ Section 22 (5) of the Motor Vehicle Act (KFG) 1967
  10. ↑ Audio sample of the Austrian post bus on Providing Concepts from 2008, accessed on January 27, 2010.
  11. ↑ Motor Vehicle Act (KFG) 1967
  12. ↑ Section 20, Paragraph 1, Item 4 of the Motor Vehicle Act (KFG) 1967
  13. ↑ § 22a (1) Z 2 lit. k Motor Vehicle Act Implementing Ordinance 1967
  14. ↑ The "Tüü-taa-too" is produced in Emmental Berner Zeitung, article from July 21, 2010
  15. ↑ Bergpoststrasse Neue Zürcher Zeitung, article from December 7, 2005
  16. ↑ Wording: «This vehicle is equipped with a star tone alternating sound horn in the tone sequence c sharp-ea. The driver is hereby entitled to announce the course in front of blind bends or where safety dictates by activating it. If you are carrying a trailer, the tone sequence must be played several times. "
  17. ↑ Ordinance of July 16, 1996 on the technical requirements for road vehicles, LGBl 143/1996.