Close call: Prius vs pedestran

Isn't that one of our problems today? In the olden days really stupid people got eaten by dinosaurs (I know) or squashed by chariots before they were able to procreate. Whatever happened to survival of the fittest?

 

I have been trying to keep quiet about this:

There are four bills in Congress:

• H.R. 734: Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 - the original legislation, it remains 'in committee' but the language was tacked on to H.R. 5381. Given the backlog of House bills awaiting action in the Senate and the narrow scope, I don't see this bill taking time on the House floor so it can die waiting for Senate action.
• S. 841: Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 - also 'in committee'. But it has few sponsors and even less likely to pass. But never say never!
• H.R. 5381: Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010 - this came about because of the Toyota safety reports and seeks to add more budget and staff to the NHTSA with improved accident data. However, it was amended with language worse than H.R. 734. It is awaiting being called to the floor for a vote. It has four co-sponsors and will cost "$4 per American."
• S. 3302: Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010 - Identical language to H.R. 5381, it has nine co-sponsors and the same cost.

You never say never but given the recent election, it seems unlikely the Senate Republicans would let any of these bills pass. The first two because it would be additional regulations, something the Republicans seem to think 'the free market' should handle. The last two because they also include a '$4 tax' on every American.

As for Japan, I believe they are still in study mode. But they have the same problem the advocates in the USA have, the absence of accident data supporting the safety claims. Regardless, the NHTSA continues to act with a field study published in April of this year.

Maryland has been subsidizing the National Federation of the Blind with a "study" panel. There had been some effort in California but it was vetoed. So without California, any state passing such legislation simply shuts down hybrid and EV sales in their state which is still possible. If hybrids can be slandered as the vehicle of choice of 'liberals,' they might show up on a ballot to be banned as an effort to call out the base . . . but variations of Gays, Guns, and God are better issues to call out the base in a conservative state.

Right now, there are 60 Democrats in the House and ~6-8 Senators who are looking for their next job. I haven't mapped the co-sponsors to lost races, yet, but this is one of those times where a 'letter to your Congressman' may not have much effect. . . .

I can't really participate as we have Congress critters of the opposite party and I don't cotton to any of them. The current House member switched parties and lost the primary election. He switched but I couldn't. The re-elected Senator did the same a decade ago and again, I could not follow. We can follow-up the 'why' in "House of Politics" but not here.

The second Senator is . . . well I would have to use large print and simple words . . . very simple words. Heck, I could use FOX phrases and accomplish the same effect. As for the newly-elected House member to be, I met him a decade ago and I didn't like him then either and he has only re-enforced my earliest impression. He was appointed district attorney by the Governor and lost the next election due to his own performance in office.

Bob Wilson

 

I abridged for clarity, not to skew your post

Japan: You're probably right. I've done a bit of studying about my new work tool---and I'm still digesting the information. I read where Japanese (maybe Toyota) were placing noise makers of some variety on EV and other "noise hazardous" vehicles. But I didn’t remember specifically whether or not they mandate noise markers for these vehicles….I’m sure they’ll get around to it.

I think that the popularity of Hybrids and EVs is going to make this a self-solving problem. If some state (or national) legislature mandates noise markers for these "deadly stealth vehicles", then Toyota or some other evil capitalist will (or already has) respond with a $20 widget that they can bolt onto said car to make it compliant. Thus I do not think such legislation will "shut down" hybrid/EV markets for the affected state/country. Our little Prius is like, the 12th most popular car sold in the US---and overseas sales, which is a misnomer I know since this car is actually manufactured overseas, will invariably generate a powerful incentive to make this car compliant with varying regulations. Toyota is a big company. They can deal.
It's like CARB regulation.
Manufacturers said that it would cripple automobile, lawnmower, home BBQ, and other industries, but this hasn't (and won't) happen.
It's an interesting topic for me personally, since I ride motorcycles a lot. I've modified my pipes to make my bike more "visible" to the latte-swilling, cell phone absorbed driving population, and many states have now begun to crack down on motorcycles for being too loud---and indeed some ARE, to the point of having inspections for "noise pollution", since we motorcyclists (like we Hybrid drivers) have our "ambassadors" to give us a bad name.
Now.....some of those same legislative bodies will no doubt generate regulations to keep Hybrids and EVs from being "too quiet."

People are just tooooo funny!

 

To the OP:

This isn't a fault of your vehicle. The fault lies with the operator and the pedestrian. Pedestrians never pay attention, and whether your car makes an idling sound or not, people step out when you are trying to back out all the time. No passenger vehicle makes a beeping sound when it backs up, it has big white lights that come on out the back that are pretty obvious. That is what it is required to do by law.

Submitting a claim to the NHTSA is blaming this incident (or near incident) on the Prius and Toyota...which is ridiculous.

This is why I back into parking spaces. Much safer to back into a parking space than back out of one.

 

No problem. I wanted to give an accurate and detailed if somewhat wordy status.

Personally, I want to see more automation in accident avoidance. When it comes to safety systems, these should be across all 'trims' even if offered as an extra cost option regardless of the model trim.

Although accident avoidance and lane following was an option, I didn't pay the extra $8,000 of eye-candy even though my family's safety is at stake. In fact, I sure as heck am not going to be blackmailed . . . perhaps too strong . . . extorted into buying some cr*p I don't want as part of a 'protection racket.'

As an individual, I don't have much negotiating power except the power to say "No." Should I see accident avoidance and lane following offered in another, high mileage vehicle, at a reasonable cost . . . bye-bye Prius. Not because I don't appreciate what the Prius has but simply as a matter of family preservation . . . risk avoidance and being able to pay my bills.

Bob Wilson

 

Good point.

 

If you want an external beep there are modules you can buy and install on the vehicle.

The cabin beep is stupid...I shut that off first thing.

If you want to complain, write your congressman and try and get the law changed. You can't submit a complaint about a vehicle because it doesn't do something its not required by law to do or advertised by the manufacturer to do.

 

And this is another reason why I always back into a parking spot, and then pull out when leaving. It's far safer backing into a parking spot and pull out looking forward than backing into traffic, both for pedestrians and other cars. I simply don't understand why so few people do this simple thing that can prevent so many fender benders. Backing into a tighter spot rather than out into the open lane might be harder for the truly spatially challenged drivers, but after a couple weeks it's second nature.

If it could just save one fender or better yet, a pedestrian ...

No, road noise on a smooth parking lot is essentially nil. You need to stand outside your car in a good parking lot and have somebody else back it up (with the engine off). It will surprise you how you cannot hear it from 5 feet away, it's visual clues only.

 

As a pedestrian in a parking lot I'm always on the lookout for cars moving. As a driver in a parking lot I'm always on the lookout for pedestrians and cars.

They're just tricky places with poor visibility. Sometimes you can't even see a car because it's obscured by another and as a Prius driver here I'm used to being sandwiched by two SUVs/pick-ups/mini-vans that I can't see past and have to pull out slowly, virtually blind to oncoming foot or vehicular traffic.

As another poster wrote, don't blame the car, blame the people.

 

A few months back i had a VERY close call in a very narrow car park. A woman closed the trunk of her car, i was driving past (silently) at a reasonable safe distance, but she stepped out without looking around, i slammed on the brake and she got spooked and swore, but then just looked at me and walked off . Luckily i didn't hit her, because i ended up pretty close to her, I must have given her a huge shock though... felt pretty bad for the next few weeks and im SUPER careful in carparks now...

 

If the weather was nice enough it might be enough to put one of your windows down. I think NHTSA should expand their campaign against distracted driving to distracted walking. Pedestrians with cell phones or MP3 players scare me.

Not sure how well it will turn out, but in our recent downtown renewal, we installed built-in back in parking spaces. It if it makes two much of a problem we'll change them back but it seemed like a good experiment.

 

Eventually, all cars will be electric. that's just a fact. I don't want to live in a world where EVERY car beeps or whines or whatever other stupid noise they are forced to make.

Yes, pedestrians have been suprised by the car, but i have not been suprised by a pedestrian (i always expect them to be lolloping dullards) and do fully support the idea of natural selection.

 

Actually I find it easier to back into narrow spaces than pull in forward...

 

That's because it IS easier! don't know why anyone would ever pull forward into a space.

 

Toyota To Offer Optional Noise Maker On Prius - Blog.AutoShopper.com