Hybrids a hazard to the blind?

Darell: It's interesting that the message doesn't specifically address the blindness issue. At this point I might also toss in a little point about how pedestrians have gone to the point of almost shutting themselves out completely by talking on cell phones so the level of sound is really irrelevant. We've constructed huge walls next to freeways because of the sounds alone, now we're worried about cars making too little sounds.

Although being as they are engineering students they probably don't get two rat's asses about the reality of a situation and just want to find a solution to solve their "homework" problem.

Ok now for the Evil Mike Hour... One possible solution to help the blind is to coat the outside in those bright yellow bumpy pads they have at corners, so when they're hit by cars they know it was a hybrid that hit them

 

Hang on, why does my prius suddenly have to make a sound in the presence of a blind person? I have no objection to fitting an infrared emitter on the front of my car and a blind person can purchase a receiver which could be built into glasses that make a sound at the ear on the side facing the car.

I know I'm not allowed to say this but why does the whole community have to pay for a heap of stuff to satisfy a small minority?

What about radar sonar glasses that detect a hard object moving toward them through Doppler shift? It would cost the community less to fit out a few blind people than fit out every quiet car bicycle and jogger with noisemakers that would irritate the main population.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(patsparks @ Oct 22 2007, 04:04 AM) [snapback]528731[/snapback]</div>

Unfortunately the Americans with Disabilities Act pretty much screws everyone else to pay for it.

But I like your ideas, maybe those types of things should be passed on instead rather than making my Prius sound like a tootsie pop whistle, let those who have issues with hearing adapt to find the solution to fit their person, not my car.

 

Hybrids pose a quiet hazard

This is from a article printed in the Minneapolis Star Tribune this morning. A reprint from the LOS ANGELES TIMES Last update: April 2, 2008 - 4:11 PM

This must be one of the every 6 month or so that this issue comes up!

Hybrids pose a quiet hazard

 

This won't go away until somebody makes it go away, I'm afraid. Are we going to have to put big red flags on all cars for the deaf who won't hear the noise makers?

The idea about the warble tone (from long ago - I never saw the responses) is that you activate it as you would the horn to make yourself more obious. It doesn't go off by itself - you pull a stalk when you see somebody who is about to be in harm's way, and you don't want to use the full horn.

 

this is all a bunch of bull. with all the crazy drivers out there, a hybrid is the last thing they should point their fingers at.