Angelfishsolo
A Velocipedian
- Location
- Cwmbach, South Wales
It's absolutely comparable, if you're splitting your attention between traffic directly around you and noises you've heard in the distance you are distracted.
Sirens are critical to road safety, but as a cyclist your concern is the 100ft radius around you.
For example I saw and heard the ambulance traveling down the other side of the road, I saw all the cars pull over to give it space and I adjusted accordingly and if I hadn't been watching the road ahead carefully I would have missed the police car (who hadn't seen me) doing a U turn in the street to follow the ambulance.
There is no comparison between Sirens and Mobile Phone conversations. The former makes you aware of the possibility of an approaching vehicle and means you can prepare to make necessary adjustments if needed, the latter requires constant though and analysis processes that are not consistent with those that a road user would usually use.
Of course you need to use your eyes as well. Visual and Aural input are both critical to road safety.
If a siren distracts you as much as talking on a mobile phone I would question your right to be on the roads.