Fire trucks in New South Wales are being outfitted with sirens that can be felt as well as heard.

Fire and Rescue trucks in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong have been testing “rumbler” sirens, which use subwoofers to direct low frequency soundwaves into the ground, creating vibrations that can be felt all around.

Emergency Services Minister David Elliot says that inattentive drivers, sound-proof cars, pedestrians with headphones, and people with hearing deficiencies often do not hear the traditional siren.

“Modern society today means that people are always tuned out, and that includes unfortunately pedestrians and motorists,” he said this week.

“You can't legislate for stupidity, sometimes you need technology to get the message across.

“This new technology will allow for pedestrians and motorists to feel a fire engine coming close to them.”

Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Greg Mullins has told ABC reporters that trials of the low frequency sirens showed they could save 30 seconds on a call-out with a five-minute response time.

“That can be the difference between life and death, literally,” he said.

The sirens will be rolled out on 25 trucks that operate in areas of high traffic and pedestrian activity, including The Rocks, Darlinghurst, Burwood, Manly, Parramatta, Eastwood, Blacktown, Newcastle and Wollongong.

The project is expected to cost just $50,000.

Mr Mullins said he would not be surprised if similar technology was taken on in ambulances and police cars.

“Any technology that is going to save lives and improve the efficiency of our emergency services would be technology that I'm quite sure other agencies would no doubt be very keen to look at,” he said.