You know how irritating the sound of a car alarm is when you’re riding a ferry?
It turns out that some dogs share your displeasure.
That’s why B.C. Ferries is asking drivers not to activate vehicle alarms during sailings — especially since it’s unlikely that anyone will try to steal your vehicle during the crossing.
Crews patrol decks during sailings and security cameras are running, making vehicle break-ins very rare, B.C. Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall said Wednesday.
B.C. Ferries learned via social media that a petition against the alarms is gathering support because of their impact on dogs, she said.
Noting that alarms can be triggered by ship movement and vibrations, the organization wrote on Twitter: “As a courtesy to crew, fellow passengers & their pets, please consider not activating your vehicle alarm during the sailing.”
B.C. Ferries has added the same request to its routine announcements onboard ferries.
Noisy car alarms also annoy customers of other ferry organizations.
Washington State Ferries posted a notice on Twitter in 2016 asking motorists to disengage their car alarms.
Stena Line in Europe also asks drivers to disable alarms and assures them their vehicle will be safe.
B.C. Ferries has created a hand-out for deck crews to place on windshields of cars whose alarms sound during sailings, Marshall said. Motorists are being asked not to activate the alarm on their next trip.
“It is an annoyance I know for other customers. If you are on the upper car deck, for example, and sitting in your car and you do hear car alarms go off.”
When an alarm is activated, deck crews radio the bridge or chief steward’s office to request an announcement alerting drivers that an alarm is sounding, along with a description of the vehicle and plate number. Motorists are asked to return to the car deck to turn it off.
“It works pretty well,” she said.
Passengers are permitted to stay in their vehicles if they are on the upper car decks but are banned from the lower decks.
