State police say they will soon have an easier time communicating with motorists on the road thanks to patrol vehicle upgrades, police announced Thursday, Jan. 29.

The upgrades include a 400-watt siren, a V-shaped light bar with 360-degree illumination and an optimized light and siren control panel. State police said they are one of two police agencies in the country with the advanced siren.

Police did not say when the upgraded vehicles would be deployed.

“These upgrades represent a major step forward in safety, visibility and operational efficiency, said Lt. Col. George Bivens, the acting commissioner. “This department has long set the benchmark for professionalism and innovation, and with this cutting-edge technology, we will continue to lead by example and set new standards for law enforcement across the nation.”

The siren utilizes four speakers and a low-frequency rumbler device that uses both tones and vibrations to increase sound pressure inside vehicles. Police said the siren upgrades can increase sound pressure up to 10 decibels to notify drivers sooner about sirens.

The optimized light and siren control panel automatically enters hands-free mode when the emergency lights activate, along with the public address system at full volume. The system includes commands in English and Spanish that are common in traffic stops and responses.

The V-shaped light bar allows GPS-based communication between vehicles to synchronize flash patterns and voice commands between vehicles. It also functions as an auxiliary brake light, an arrow board for traffic control, a floodlight and automatically dims when the vehicle is parked to improve night vision and reduce glare.