Lotus - lets have some fun

[tochatihu]

As has been mentioned elsewhere recently, Prius is an unusually noisy vehicle in terms of radio emissions below 30 mHz. As this is probably true of hybrid vehicles in general, I wonder if anyone has thought about using this 'feature' to develop an annunciator for low-vision people to carry.

[bwilson4web]

This was unexpected:

Originally Posted by Stivo

... Blind people do not want to be marked more than they already are (I guess). Imagine yourself walking along side a blind person in the street and getting all the time bleeped at, just because you are in the vicinity of a blind person. ...

Someday you may realize what this says about your commitment to blind safety.

There are 25 dead kids, their Moms and Dads who need the keyfob.

Bob Wilson

[nerfer]

Originally Posted by bwilson4web

Someday you may realize what this says about your commitment to blind safety.

There are 25 dead kids, their Moms and Dads who need the keyfob.

Bob Wilson

For this statement to be meaningful, it obviously can't be for hybrids only. So this is a different issue altogether than making hybrids sound like old-style cars and has nothing to do with that legislative effort, from what I can see.

So that's what confuses me. Half the time you are saying there's no problem with hybrids, the other half the time you are saying here's a better solution, albeit a more expensive and involved one, requiring change in human habits (attaching fobs to kids before they go out) as opposed to just starting up your car and driving. This only makes sense if you're really targeting all vehicles.

[bwilson4web]

Hi,

Originally Posted by nerfer

For this statement to be meaningful, it obviously can't be for hybrids only. So this is a different issue altogether than making hybrids sound like old-style cars and has nothing to do with that legislative effort, from what I can see.

Not to worry, they are related.

Originally Posted by nerfer

So that's what confuses me. Half the time you are saying there's no problem with hybrids,

For the blind and ordinary pedestrians, correct. We can find no evidence that our quiet hybrid electrics pose a risk to pedestrians that couldn't be addressed by a warning on the sun visor, next to the airbag warning.

Originally Posted by nerfer

... the other half the time you are saying here's a better solution, albeit a more expensive and involved one, requiring change in human habits (attaching fobs to kids before they go out) as opposed to just starting up your car and driving. This only makes sense if you're really targeting all vehicles.

Except for the expense, you are correct. The software change for our cars adds recognition of a universal keyfob. It remains a one time expense added to the manufacturing download. There is no other change to our cars. In fact there is no change to any keyfob equipped car beyond the software.

The keyfob electronics are also straight forward, practical and another profit center. It requires those who want safety to do something. Refusal to make even this modest effort is as telling as our troll's last posting.

What is most enjoyable about this effort, the special keyfob works and the sound generators do not. In any head-to-head competition, the keyfob blows the sound generators away and not by a little but a lot. It is to pedestrian safety what our hybrids have been to vehicle mileage and we can use that as a powerful negotiating point for lower insurance rates.

These efforts are part of the whole addressing:

‘‘Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2008’’

By all means, contact your representative(s) (why stop with just your district?) and let them know your opinion. Write a letter to the editor; post a reply to every blog or bogus news release (remember Lotus?) Don't sit there passively and complain to us, we are the hybrid electric community.

Questions are always welcome because it sharpens my arguments. There is something called 'moot court' where lawyers practice against themselves. Questions help me get better, more practiced. But never forget that we need allies and that comes from facing outwards. Let's be friends and not form a circular firing squad. <grins>

BTW, do you know this co-sponsor: Rep Janice D. Schakowsky? Perhaps you might see if she has opposition this year. Perhaps there is a local paper or credible broadcast news department that might be interested in an article about the subject. Send me a PM with contact information for them. Like Lotus, I also have a press kit only mine has the facts and data. <GRINS>

Bob Wilson