Nearly Silent Hybrid Cars May Endanger the Blind

Electric wheelcar is silent too, why don't they make it sound like cars so that they do not hurt the blind.... stupid people. Why don't they complain about it too? Oh, don't go against another handicap group.

:angry:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dipper @ Feb 22 2007, 09:04 PM) [snapback]395012[/snapback]</div>

There are always people to complain about the stupidest $#!?.

 

Instead of making hybrids noisier (and eliminating the quiet that most hybrid owners have come to cherish) why not simply install a five cent RF chip into each car, so the hearing disabled can detect hybrids from a safe distance? Cheap, quiet, effective - everybody wins!

 

I regularly have trouble with people not hearing my Prius while traveling through a parking lot. They wander casually in front of me, and many would get out of the way if they were aware that a car was approaching.

I generally don't want to use the horn, but some sort of noise would be useful. Perhaps the door lock beeper would help. Or a bicycle bell. The backup alarm used on large trucks is probably too loud, but something a little softer might work.

 

Many of today's cars are quiet.
If you want to create a little added noise simply "force" the ICE on by activating the window defroster.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RobH @ Feb 22 2007, 09:53 PM) [snapback]395057[/snapback]</div>

I agree with you fully - there is a safety issue here - even for people who are not handicapped in any way. A soft buzzer that emulates the sound of an idling car for when the vehicle is on electric power is a smart and simple idea.

 

Of course, bikers have been endangering the blind for years too. We must do something! h34r:

 

Horns are required on all cars.

If in doubt, use yours.

Problem solved.

Harry

PS: drive defensively, scan for pedestrians, respect their right-of-way and be a responsible driver.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Earthling @ Feb 23 2007, 06:08 AM) [snapback]395105[/snapback]</div>

seriously the car is silent but the tires are not! I can hear my car "approaching" me. besides don't the blind have those quide sticks? and anyone driving should have their own pair of functioning eyes. Right?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TomorrowMatters @ Feb 23 2007, 08:45 AM) [snapback]395114[/snapback]</div>

A friend of mine told me about this a while ago. I thought he was joking (cause it sounded ridiculous). Then I saw it on the news. It stupefys me to the point that I don't even know what to say. Next thing you know, some little kid will run out into the street after a ball and be hit by a hybrid, and the quietness will be blamed. or somebody not paying attention in a parking lot will back into a pedestrian and the quietness will be blamed. At least that's how it would go if everybody followed the same thought process as this deal with the blind one.... wow.

 

As discussed in an earlier thread, this issue is not Prius-specific for the blind, but a concern for them about the trend for quieter cars in general, which they only expect to increase. They're worried that quiet cars in future years could result in legislation deeming blind people incompetent to travel on city streets unassisted, thereby greatly restricting their freedom of movement and quality of life. So while it seems like a bunch of hyperbole on the surface, underneath they have a legitimate issue that they're trying to generate dialogue about.

 

I can see the point of this thread and have, more than once wished there were a button on the steering wheel which I could activate which would give some soothing indication there is a car approaching. Maybe it would make a sound like baseball cards in spokes of a bike or say something in a voice (like they do on the Jersey boardwalks). It would be really fun if you could program it yourself to either make sounds, music or a short sentence.

 

Hi All,

Simple solution - Next Time you see somebody walking down the street with a white cane, with a red tip - blow your horn. I do that anytime I see pedestrians in the street in front of me anyway.

Almost had a father carrying a child walk out in front of me the other day. But that was more of a blocked/confused vision situation as I was on a street with cars parked on either side, so looking at my approaching Prius (with the majority blocked by his child's head, and the cars he was behind), he just saw the top edge of a car, which to him was just another car parked on the far side of the street. With the train going by, I doubt he would have heard a standard car, let alone the Prius in electric mode either. He did hear my horn however. This father's vision was a detriment to his safety, in this situation.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TomorrowMatters @ Feb 23 2007, 07:45 AM) [snapback]395114[/snapback]</div>

Tires at low speeds, like <20 mph can be nearly silent on pavement. Add a bit of a wind or general street noise and it's easy to see (so to speak) how the blind would not hear the car (and how would their canes help this?). Others beside the blind could also walk out in front of a car in stealth mode. I think we've all had moments where we scared somebody who didn't realize we were moving, some people apparently kinda enjoy doing that to pedestrians. But not at moderately high speeds in front of a strip mall or someplace where evasive actions might be limited.

This is a legitimate concern, something I've thought about because I've walked into the street based only on what I could hear, if it's difficult to turn around and look (carrying something bulky or have a hood on in inclement weather). In the past that hasn't been a problem. I agree the final responsibility is with the driver (and pedestrians to not jaywalk if they can't see the traffic), but they certainly don't want to walk in front of a moving hybrid/electric car if it can be avoided. It would be nice to have something not as loud or startling as a horn is. I kinda like the Model-T "awooga" sound, but something low and continuous might be better. Beeping is generally only for backing up, that would confuse onlookers.

Hmm, I bet Hobbit could rig something up, then we need somebody to market it...who sold all those wee Prii model cars? Pretty good audience right here for a decent product, I would think.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MarinJohn @ Feb 23 2007, 11:57 AM) [snapback]395226[/snapback]</div>

I tried baseball cards in my spokes. My mileage went down, so I removed them. :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Feb 23 2007, 12:24 PM) [snapback]395297[/snapback]</div>

Yep. It's definitely not a Prius-only thing, nor is it only a risk for the blind. Many legally blind people can see large moving objects (like those with macular degeneration), and as we mentioned, many people with good vision occasionally walk out on a street without looking both ways. So this is a bit simplified.

As for the risk, I like to look at this like an engineer - look at the possibilities and choose the one with the least cost. 'Cost' in this case is measured in emotional drama.

A ) The pedestrian hears you coming and waits for you to pass. No cost.
B ) The pedestrian starts to cross, you honk, the pedestrian is scared and stops, people look. Little cost.
C ) The pedestrian starts to cross, you are momentarily distracted by any of a thousand things people get distracted by in their car, and hit the pedestrian. This is massive cost, potentially lasting for the life of several affected people (yourself, pedestrian, pedestrian's family, maybe involving lawyers if you were fiddling with the MFD or a cell phone).

Some may argue the difference in cost between A and B is negligible but the problem is, the difference between B and C is one second of your attention span. It would take a big leap to get from A to C. So I prefer to stay firmly in A if possible.

 

When in doubt, stop and let the pedestrian cross. This is the best solution. In a parking lot, pedestrians *always* have the right of way, period.

Use your horn. This is why it's there. Don't be afraid of *offending* someone. It's better to have offended than to have run someone over.

Smile and wave when they look at you as you silently pass them.

Dave

 

Better yet, stop making hybrids, EV, and fuelcell cars.

Problem solved, just have to get those v12 engines and removed mufflers. :lol:

Really, people need to have better defensive driving. Or stop driving all together.