CNN - Boy hit by Prius - Couldn't hear it.

[RatedN]

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

I suppose it was bound to happen that something like this was going to pop up in the news. It's terrible that he was hit, but I think the story is a little one sided though. They didn't ever explore the possibility that the kid, like many kids, just darted into the road without looking. The Prius is quiet when it's crawling, but at street speeds, the tire noise can make it almost as noisy as any other small engine car. Seems like an incident like this could become an unnecessary hype generator.

Luckily though, no one was seriously injured regardless of whether or not it was really due to hybrid silence.

PS - If the link doesn't work, it's on the CNN.com front page under "Latest News" for the time being.

[Winston]

Most people don't actually look before walking into the street, they rely on hearing if a car is comming. I often have people walk right in front of me when driving through parking lots. They never look, they just listen and that technique does not work with a Prius.

[jdonalds]

It seems like there is momentum building to put some kind of noise generator on Hybrids. The people in this country and in congress can be convinced of anything once the media is focused on it. I'm very sorry to hear this because I think it will be misplaced legislation like a lot of other laws in this country.

If they do force something on us I hope it is smart. It would be reasonable if it only activates at low speed and is quiet enough that it can't be heard inside the car with the windows closed. I also hope they don't single out hybrids but rather focus on any car with a noise below a certain level. What about bicycles?!

I can see a state mandated sticker and fee coming for testing how quiet a car is, followed by a mandatory noise generator installation. What a way to mess up a good thing.

[bac]

I love how the mother states that the quiet Prius was the problem. The vid CLEARLY states that the kid rode directly into the path of the Prius without looking. I'd say it was more of MOM'S fault for either not teaching her son to look before riding out into the street, or for not supervising him. It certainly wasn't the "quiet car".

Mr. Darwin ..... are you listening?

... Brad

[boulder_bum]

Are you kidding me? The thing about Prius quietness is that it only occurs at very low speeds. If you look at the kid they interview in the video, the extent of his damages was that he rolled up the windshield, then scraped his knee.

Red alert! Red alert!

First, there's no indication that the kid who wasn't paying attention wouldn't have been hit by any other car, and second, the conclusion they propose is preposterous.

That report was an overreaction in total support of frivolous and unintelligent legislation. Even the Prius owner they interviewed appeared to support the legislation saying "it made total sense". It doesn't. I don't want an annoying sound playing every time my car slows/stops and the point is moot anyway because where you really need to help blind people is at crosswalks, where the Prius should be at a dead stop, or the blind person is foolishly jaywalking (in which case any car would be a risk).

I think Prius owners have more to fear from blind people whacking their car with their pole than anything else.

[boulder_bum]

By the way, is anyone else annoyed by the beepers on crosswalks that let the blind know when to cross? I actually understand their necessity, but I sure the heck wouldn't want one of those on my car.

[Swanny1172]

Christ, the nanny state is at work already -- legislation was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to require hybrids and electric cars to emit a certain level of noise...

kare11.com :: KARE 11 TV - Boy hit by hybrid car; mom says he didn't hear it coming

Flannigan doesn't blame the driver of the Prius for running into her son, since Owen biked out in front of his car but she does cut her son some slack. "We're conditioned to hear car noises," she says. "This is a big safety issue."

So, the mother admitted that he rode his bike out in front of the car, but still says it wasn't entirely his fault! The "big safety issue" here is shitty parenting.

When are people going to learn that you can't legislate stupidity out of existence?

[hyo silver]

Originally Posted by jdonalds

...If they do force something on us I hope it is smart...What about bicycles?!...

The knobbies on my mountain bike make more noise on pavement than a slow-moving Prius. The road bike has an air horn that puts most car horns to shame. And if all else fails, I can always yell.

Originally Posted by boulder_bum

...I think Prius owners have more to fear from blind people whacking their car with their pole than anything else.

You mean their cane, don't you?

[TheForce]

I agree with bac. It was the kids fault not the Prius. Maybe even the parents fault for not teaching or watching the child. I burried the Digg submission.

[Rest]

You never hear about a person getting hit by a bicycle because they didn't hear it. The Prius isn't dead silent for christ's sake. The news media is bias on everything.