Silent Prius

I already have a sound-emitting device on my Prius. It's called a horn.

Now get out of my way!

 

More cow bell!

Rod

 

I read this today. I was going to post it but then I saw there was this old thread from 2008.

Silent, Yes ? But Deadly? - MSN Autos

 

Something like cow bells.

 

Maybe we need those low base speakers so you can feel the presence of a Prius in your chest. You know, the Gangster Prius.

 

Holy necro, Batman!!!!

So wrong...

 

That's our media: the NHTSA report also said they didn't have enough data for statistical validity. But that wouldn't be compelling.

I still remember the chuckle I got years ago when my building's parking garage installed braille numbers on the elevator- apparently so the blind could get to their cars easier.

I did note that our beloved social worker turned congressman, Rep Towns is helping them out. Since he's that worried about something that hasn't caused any deaths, I guess that shows where SUA's alleged 50 plus deaths puts him...

 

I wouldn't mind having a button to press for a polite jingle of some kind. I've been behind people in parking lots, waiting for them to walk out of the way and realized that they just didn't know I was there. Didn't want to hit them with the horn of course. So I'm just left waiting and they get all uncomfortable when they finally realize I'm there.
But some smokin' Ferrari engine tones could be way cool too. Have them blast down and out from under the traction battery.

- D

 

I want mine to sound like a P-51 Mustang

 

Why is this still a problem? These people seem to want it both ways. News reports now indicate the Prius is one of the more noisy cars on the road. Surely a blind pedestrian can hear the roar of the flames that are shooting off of the brake rotors as the out if control Prius approaches.

 

jburns .... Did you think I was serious?

 

I want my Prius to sound like a Harley

 

Extra precaution is definitely in order with full hybrid vehicles.

Today I was leaving a toll parking lot and an attendant offered to put the tickets in the machine. He was very close to my driver's door. I said 'you're ok, right? I'm going to pull forward'.

You never know, he may have thought I needed to start the engine before pulling forward through the gate. Likely not, but cannot assume.

While I do not think hybrids should be 'belled', I do think extra precaution is necessary with pedestrians near as these cars are extremely quiet when coasting by.

 

No, hope you didn't think I was. BTW the P-51 was a sweet aircraft.

 

I don't think you'd get much disagreement about driver responsibility. We need to be aware of the difference between a Hummer and a Prius for all pedestrians, whether children, blind, deaf or distracted by their cellphone or their conversation. Actually interior cabin sound levels in the Prius are actually higher than some big pickups while idling. Not true of course outside the cabin.

 

The Prius already makes plenty of noise, with all of those passengers screaming when the accelerator goes crazy and brakes fail. Perhaps we should get sirens to protect the public and the GPS should automatically display a route to the nearest hospital.

 

I just saw this and agree. Nothing like the sound of a Rolls Royce V-12 (Merlin's Magic) in a dive at 400+ knots.

 

Still this BS? Let's put it this way:
1) blind people listen way more and way better than normal people - they need to be much more aware not only of cars, but people as well as bicycles (those don't make noise!); also, typically, they have a dog with them and dogs hear much better than humans anyway;
2) deaf people, look way more around than normal people; they have to, otherwise they can be run down by bicycles, for example
3) normal people: they simply don't look and walk on the streets/roads/parking lots as if they are at home; it doesn't matter what car you drive, they simply don't look or listen - they "wander" around, looking at their phones, SMSs, iPods, etc. - they are the problem, not silent cars. I had people not looking (or listening for that matter) even when I was driving my diesel car (and those *are* noisy) - I had to honk more than once to make the pedestrian(s) aware I was there. Moreover, when the Prius' ICE is off, there is still noise from the tires and the brakes - yes, surely, it is not loud, but surely not 0dB. So you can listen to it. Plus, where it is written that you can cross the road without looking (and listening)? what about bikes running over people???

So, enough with this non-sense, shall we?

 

I've noticed the blind seem to be of two schools: cane only and dog assisted. The guide dog assisted blind have already modified their training to include the Prius and make sure it is cluing on motion. The few I've chatted with seem OK with hybrids. In contrast, the "press release" photos seem to show canes, not guide dogs. Now a dog also entails overhead that some blind may not be able to support.

Still, there is the other problem: the voluntary deaf and blind pedestrians. By that, I mean: cell phone, game boy, gaggle of kids, conversationalists, iPod/walkman, e.t.c. I never cease to be amazed at how many pedestrians prove they can 'walk and chew gum' right into an accident.

Bob Wilson

 

All interest seems to have evaporated on this thread, but I will make one parting comment:

I do my best to watch out for everyone. Whenever I drop my wife off at the front entry to a shop, the ICE is off, and the Pri is virtually silent. There have been instances where people (young, old, hearing, deaf, vision and blind - I assume) that simply are not aware the car is there, or moving. Even if I am not legally or morally in the wrong .... I want to avoid hitting/injuring anyone; and .... the hassle of a police investigation/reports.

Lastly, some have conceded a "noise maker" would not be so bad. Yet, how many threads have there been about owners wanting to silence the back-up beeper?