# Why Digital Alerts Are More Effective Than Lights and Sirens Alone

06/04/2026 9:36 am CDT

Lights and sirens (L/S) rely on drivers having full visibility and unimpeded hearing to alert drivers in time. Quieter car cabins, busier roads, and more driver distractions make L/S less effective today, and [studies](https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/162638/Drucker_umn_0130E_14542.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y) show that drivers have less than 3 seconds on average to react safely before a collision.

Digital alerts use modern technology to extend the reach and efficacy of L/S by sending advance warnings to drivers through the navigation or in-vehicle systems they’re already using in real-time with as much as 30 seconds of advance notice. This gives drivers more time to slow down, move over, and make safer decisions.