Almost crushed someone today!

Good reason to have a back-up camera.
I had a similar close call too backing out of a parking stall. I surprised a woman who didn't expect the car to move because she couldn't hear the engine.
I was thinking it would be nice to have some sort of audible alert for people outside the car, after all they already made the beeping noise for inside the car when backing up.

 

windows down, radio up. problem solved.

 

Especially relevant since the car kicks into reverse in a rather
enthusiastic fashion, and if you aren't on the brake it like LEAPS
backward. Rather annoying, in fact; reverse creep seems to be a
bit stronger than forward creep. Oh, and of course couple that with
the canonically rusty brake parts that cause them to grab and
shudder and otherwise misbehave while you're attempting to rein in
that headlong plunge into where you can't see..
.
_H*

 

Another solution is to install your own back-up beeper for people outside your car to hear. Look at this post from Solar Powered for directions and part numbers. A super-simple mod and what the back-up beeper should have been from the factory.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Mar 29 2006, 05:47 PM) [snapback]232024[/snapback]</div>

I think a gently tinkling bell---something on the order of wind chimes---would be a good idea. Have it kick in when in stealth at any speed below, say, 25 MPH. Could be a marketing boon for the Prius, too.

Is it illegal to tinkle as you go slowly down the street?

 

I can't believe [you] did such a thing!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mirza @ Mar 29 2006, 11:13 PM) [snapback]232160[/snapback]</div>

Yeah. I know. [you] is really irresponsible about things like that. I've read posts by [you] on another thread and it just seems like [you] doesn't pay attention.

(Lovin' the upgrade, Danny).

 

Okay, where should I mount this cowbell so as to least screw with
the aerodynamics?
.
_H*

 

OK I confess [you] went past that blind person standing on the corner, waiting to cross the street, with her white cain in front of her, in deep stealth mode, dry pavement, with traffic all around, and caused her to jump back because of the air hitting her from your passing. [you] resolves to touch the gas in the future to make noise. LOL's in the parking lot, well look out because you are fair game. My suggestion to you is carry a auto defibrillator, you will need it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hdrygas @ Mar 30 2006, 10:54 PM) [snapback]232740[/snapback]</div>

Enough is enought ! Danny, can we get the ['you'] flag banished from all fora other than FHOP? As can be seen here, thread drift is hard enough to contain without its help.
['me']
P.S. Note to hdrygas (not a 'you'ism), while she may have been 'raising cain' with her white cane, I tend to doubt that she named her cane Cain. Sheesh!

 

Why wasn't the reverse beeper standard on the outside of the car, where it's needed, but on the inside, where it's annoying as hell???

 

I work right SMACK dab in the middle of the university here - I don't have to tell ya how annoying that is - with almost hitting people. The students all walk around like they're the only ones on the planet anyway - but with my silent car I have to really really drive slowly.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mssmith95 @ Mar 29 2006, 09:38 PM) [snapback]231969[/snapback]</div>

What this REALLY teaches is that you cannot ASSUME anything. Before backing, you should LOOK behind your car. This is particularly important when pedestrians are likely to be near. Doesn't matter if you have a stealth car or not. People are hard of hearing, people have conditions where they cannot move quickly. People can be passed out. YOU are responsible for where that car goes.