Hybrid cars may pose silent threat to the blind

[bwilson4web]

Hybrid cars may pose silent threat to the blind | courier-journal | The Courier-Journal

Advocates want vehicles to make some sound

By Rick Rojas
They're quiet, save gas and are easier on the environment.
But for blind pedestrians, hybrid vehicles are accidents just waiting to happen, advocates say.

Now a move is under way in Washington to require manufacturers of hybrids to set minimum sound standards for new cars and trucks, with advocates arguing blind pedestrians can't hear the nearly silent vehicles, which use a gas engine for higher speeds and an electric motor for slower speeds.
...
Another idea is to use a feature similar to a panic button on many vehicles' keyless remotes. A blind person would carry a device, and if they neared a vehicle, the device would be triggered to sound an alarm.

"We're going to have to use technology," said Robert J. Wilson, chief executive officer of 625k Inc., an Alabama-based company that works to maintain older hybrids. But he said that could be difficult, as another sound from a hybrid might not be discernible to a pedestrian amid the chorus of traffic noise.

Still, he said, he understands the concern.

"All they want is the hybrid cars to make noise," he said.
...

Bob Wilson

[Rybold]

In most states (if not all states), the driver is responsible for not hitting pedestrians. It is not the pedestrian's responsibility. If a pedestrian is struck by a car, guess who is going to jail?
Hybrid cars do not need sound regulations. The drivers need to look where they are going! Do you know how many pedestrians I drive by every day? Thousands! And some of them have red-tipped canes. Guess what? I have never run over a single one of them!

Many times in parking lots, I walk by internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and I literally cannot hear any sound coming from the engine. Why the double standards? Why do hybrids have to have minimum sound requirements when ICE cars can be as silent as possible? I wonder if the oil companies have something to do with this. Or maybe the blind people just want attention.

[PriusSport]

This is BS.
First of all, blind people should not drive Priuses--or any other car.
Secondly, they should not be walking sidewalks without a trained dog. And a trained dog will have no trouble detecting a Prius--or any other vehicle.They aren't that stealthy outside--you can hear the engine inside--with soundproofing, so it's noisier outside. Stopped at a traffic light? Fortunately, the driver can see who is crossing the street, and can beep the horn. The Prius does have a horn.

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by Rybold

... Or maybe the blind people just want attention.

When someone only has a hammer, they tend to see all problems as nails. But the real problem is HR 5734 "Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2008" needs to be fixed. But as of this afternoon, there are 52 co-sponsors. Is one of your state's congress critters a co-sponsor? Have you contacted them?

Railing about pending legislation here won't be nearly as effective as picking up the phone and calling their office or converting your comments into a letter sent not only to your congress critter but any others in your state. Better still, another copy to your local newspaper.

HR 5734 is a stealth bill that if not fixed or passed as it is written today will force noise makers on our hybrids. Worse, it mandates that these will be the least effective solution making our hybrids just as dangerous as today's gas-only cars that kill 4,700 pedestrians per year.

Now I want a technical solution that says everyone who shares the road plays a part. I also want this technical solution because it begins to implement the "smart highway" we need so our hybrids can form highway, bumper-to-bumper convoys and avoid hybrid-to-hybrid accidents. These side effects will save us fuel and insurance rates.

If you are going to Hybridfest, look me up and we'll talk some more. But really, if HR 5734 passes as it is today, you'll have no one to blame but your own inactivity in letting Congress know your opinion.

Bob Wilson
625k Inc.

[nyty-nyt]

I want mine to emit the sound of a formula one car.
That would make everyone jump out of the way, for sure.

[hackIT]

Last time I checked, my Prius had a decent set of brakes. And I promise to use them if and when I encounter a blind pedestrian. And if that isn't sufficient, there's always my horns.

[GCBloke]

Bob - thanks for making us aware of HR5734. What a bizarre idea? Imagine the improvement of quality-of-life for many people (particularly urban) when cars are emission-free and noise-free. Wonder who is really behind this bill? Detroit?

[robbyr2]

I agree that this is a controversy without a foundation. My Prius is quiet. But so are a lot of cars. And so is a Tesla Roadster. I work in downtown and drive 16 miles each way to and from work. I see a lot of pedestrians but maybe 1 blind pedestrian maybe every four or five months. How many blind pedestrians have thrown themselves in front of Prii to date?
This sounds a lot like the building where I used to work that after the ADA was passed, promptly installed braille numbers for the parking garage elevators. Something just doesn't fit.

[McDonald]

I'd like mine to sound like an ice cream truck, so that not only will pedestrians be walking in front of my car they will be running towards it.

Or not! I like my silent Prius.

[GCBloke]

Just fired this off to my Congressman; it's not perfect but gets the point across. Bob; do you have a brief citation for the 2006 death stats?

"Dear Congressman Ferguson:

I am writing regarding H.R.5734, a bill which requires hybrid and other "quiet" vehicles to be fitted with a noise-making device in order for blind and otherwise hearing impaired pedestrians, cyclists and young children to hear the vehicles' approach.

As a hybrid owner and avid cyclist, I am concerned that the Bill is extremely ill-advised. The adoption of hybrids (and other fuel-efficient vehicles) is a key component of America becoming self-sufficient in energy use; reduces flow of funds to countries and groups antagonistic to the USA and our way of life; allows new technologies and innovation which will enhance the American economy; will improve the quality of life - especially in urban areas - with reduction of pollution and noise from vehicles; and is key to fighting global emissions of carbon dioxide.

As such, we Americans should be striving to extend the use of hybrids (and other fuel-efficient vehicles) and the addition of artifical noise-making devices does not help this cause.

A major concern with the Bill is the lack of data showing that blind pedestrians are affected by such vehicles; indeed of almost 5000 pedestrian deaths in 2006, 6 were blind pedestrians with no evidence presented to link these fatalities to "quiet" vehicles. There is obviously a much larger problem around pedestrian safety, which is not considered by this Bill.

I would respectfully ask that you suspend action on H.R.5734, and work with your colleagues in Congress to address the wider issues of pedestrian safety and encourage adoption of energy-independence technologies."