Lights Without Siren; Safety or Danger?

Many states allow volunteer EMTs/firefighters to respond in the personal vehicles with lights. This is typically know as a courtesy light (though legally they may be considered emergency vehicles that cars have to yield too). In New York State, volunteer firefighters respond with blue lights and volunteer EMT/EMS personnel respond with green lights. Unfortunately, they arent allowed to use sirens (though many volunteers will use airhorns). The question arises: Is this a safer method of response?

Let's look at the options:

1)Respond without any lights or sirens.
2)Respond with lights and siren and being considered an emergency vehicle (just light any other police car, fire truck or ambulance.
3)Continue to respond using a courtesy light/lights.

Responding without any lights or sirens has the potential to increase response time (very minimal change would be noted because the driver using a courtesy light needs to abide by all motor vehicle laws). I think that this is the better option if your state doesnt allow lights and sirens. Using a courtesy light can create confusion to other motorist (especially when pulling up to an intersection). Also, although very much an opinion, I would say that once the lights are activated, it creates a need for speed by the responding driver.

I think that any state that has a courtesy light law needs to think about changing the law to either allow lights and siren or nothing. Lights and sirens would decrease the response time but would do so in a safe manner. The problem can be that there will be to many people driving around with lights and sirens and it will be hard to know who is authorized. Additionally, any state that does allow lights and sirens should also require volunteers to have 360 degrees of lighting. I dont care how you acheive 360 degree coverage, it could be a roofmounted lightbar, a beacon or surface mount lights that are mounted on all sides of the vehicle. Either way, you need to be seen and heard!