Prii too quiet?

I remember a comic where the car's owner was bragging about mileage, options and value to a couple of friends. One friend nugged the other and said quietly, "I thought cars were getting quieter."

I took a blind member of our church home one day and he wanted to have the window down to listen on how quiet the car was. He really liked it. He also liked the NAV system, mainly because it told the person to make a turn and gave a beep when a turn was to be made.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DES_Prius @ Feb 22 2007, 05:47 PM) [snapback]394862[/snapback]</div>

I was nearly hit by Prius in a parking garage just a couple of days after reading this piece. I was dumping some trash in a can a turned around to return to my car - I took one step and was luckily able to freeze before walking right in front of a black Prius that was running silent. I couldn't even hear the tires rolling on the concrete.

I thought it was in the owners manual, maybe somewhere else, but I recall reading a warning to be extra careful, especially in parking areas, because pedestrians may not be able to hear you. This hazard should be news to Prius owners.

 

There is at least one other thread on this topic:

Hybrid cars are too quiet: Risk Pedestrian Safety

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DES_Prius @ Feb 22 2007, 05:47 PM) [snapback]394862[/snapback]</div>

And what about Bicycles...

 

We should require noise-making devices for all pedestrians as well, as they're a real threat to the blind.

As long as a blind person isn't driving the Prius (let's be honest, even with directions from Navi Jane, a blind person would not make a good prius driver) it just takes the usual amount of attentiveness for drivers to not run over people.

So to all Prius drivers, if you see a blind person in the road, please don't hit them with your car or you'll give us all a bad name!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ichabod @ Feb 23 2007, 12:56 PM) [snapback]395445[/snapback]</div>

If blind people don't drive why do they put brail on the drive up cash machines? If I have to have a noise maker attached to my car I want it to make my Prius sound like a Formula One Race Car compleat with all the up and down shifting!!! I blow those Ricers off the road!! :lol: B) :blink:

 

Absolutely rediculous! too quite, fooo... what about electric vehicles? and as someone said, bicycles? I'm sorry, and certainly mean no discrimination by the comment, but I dont think I have passed any blind pedestrians since i've owned my Prius. Heck, I dont even remember seeing any blind people here since I've lived here........

Too quite....... :lol: :lol: get a life... :lol: :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DES_Prius @ Feb 22 2007, 02:47 PM) [snapback]394862[/snapback]</div>

This issue can be easily solved by simply honking your horn constantly, whenever you see that just the electric motor is in use.

There is no need to modify the Prius to make it louder.

Lance in Orygun

 

Yup, I figure we all have to trade our cars for a big GMC Yukon or something that will make enough noise to keep the blind people safe. Maybe a nice diesel dualie pickup.

Some writer thinks he's smarter than everyone else because he thought up the idea about blind people and quiet cars.

It's already been said that cellphone and iPod use are greater threats to the pedestrians, because they don't use caution like blind people do.

 

There was a law (and it's still on the books) that all cars and trucks must be preceeded by a person waving a flag, so they wouldn't surprise scare the horses! I suspect it's only there in certain juristictions, but I was shown it when I took my driving lessons back in the "dark ages".

I'm an electronics tech, maybe I should make and sell a "vroom vroom" module for the outside of the vehicle.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DES_Prius @ Feb 23 2007, 12:47 AM) [snapback]394862[/snapback]</div>

When automobiles first became available to the public in the late 19th century, it was law to have a man with a red flag walk in front of your car. Are we getting back to that?

I am not insensitive to the needs of the disabled, but I would object to my car making constant beeping noises while driving.

All I can say is: " Prius drivers, be aware that people don't always look when they want to cross the path of a car."

 

Would be more practical to equip blind people with radar!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rangerdavid @ Feb 23 2007, 09:21 PM) [snapback]395540[/snapback]</div>

I've seen a few blind people while I've been driving, walking with a white cane or seeing-eye-dog. The worst one was a blind guy with a white cane trying to cross a six lane divided highway. He had gotten to the center narrow island and was completely confused and turning around in circles. The cars were flying by, including me because I didn't see him before I was passing him. The people are supposed to stop to allow a blind pedestrian to cross. I wanted to go back to help him, but there was no chance to turn around. At least he did get across the street, since there were no reports of pedestrian fatalities that day.

Another time I was having a blind guy sign a political petition I was working on. He had propped up his cane and was working on signing when his cane started to fall. I nearly had a heart attack when he reached quickly and grabbed it before it fell. I found out he wasn't totally blind, just with exceedingly terrible eyesight but could discern things if they were close enough. He had a great sense of humor and laughed.