Lotus - lets have some fun

[bwilson4web]

Hi,

These folks are trying to ride HR 5734 to a government mandated purchase of their "noise" system. They are just trying to curry favor and really don't care about the big picture. Regardless, they have issued a press release to multiple news outlets. So let's have some fun and share our comments with:

Lotus Technology Makes Hybrid Cars Noisy - I4U News UK
Lotus adds synthesised engine sound to dangerously quiet hybrid cars - Miscellaneous
Lotus turns up the volume on hybrids - Latest Car News from 4Car
Introducing the hybrid you can hear (so it won't run you over) - Features, Motoring - The Independent
Greentech Media | Hybrids Gain a Voice
Lotus fits speakers to electric cars to put the 'vroom' back into silent engines | Mail Online
Prius Soon will Offer V8 Roar - U.S. News Rankings and Reviews
Lotus Creates Artificial Engine Noise To Make Quiet Hybrids Safer
Lotus 'Safe & Sound' system makes quiet vehicles audible | Car Tech: An automotive blog from CNET - CNET Reviews
Lotus gives hybrids a V8 soundtrack - Autoblog

Remember these people only make money if HR 5734 is passed in the current form. The "media" that have repeated this nonsense lack the facts and data. So let's have some fun.

Facts and data:

• Prius has the same pedestrian accident rate as other cars (Dr. Hogan report)
• No blind has ever been killed by a Prius
• Adding noise to a Prius makes them exactly as dangerous at the cars that already kill 4,700 per year
• Only 5 blind die per year and mostly from pickup trucks
• 25 kids die each year under rear bumpers and exhaust pipes

The accident source is attached as well as this photo from a backover accident from the April 2008 accident report:


Facts and data are a powerful argument and this is just another example of media echoing nonsense like the old CNW Marketing report. All it takes is posting a comment or sending a note to the editors with the facts and data. "Whack a mole" in real life ... enjoy the clubs I'm leaving in your hands!

Bob Wilson

[Rybold]

I've said this before on this issue, and I'll say it again.
It is the driver's responsibility to look where he/she is going. Regardless of the vehicle type, if a driver runs over a pedestrian, it is the driver's fault for not looking where they were going. There have been many times in grocery store parking lots that I have walked by gas-powered cars (ICE) where I could not hear any engine sound at all. And guess what? I'm still here to type this because the drivers of those vehicles were looking where they were going and did not run me over. According to the law, it is ultimately the driver's responsibility to prevent the incident (by not running over people).
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...maybe we should require blind people to wear noise makers and strobe lights
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[BIGGDOGG]

Originally Posted by Rybold

I've said this before on this issue, and I'll say it again.
It is the driver's responsibility to look where he/she is going. Regardless of the vehicle type, if a driver runs over a pedestrian, it is the driver's fault for not looking where they were going. There have been many times in grocery store parking lots that I have walked by gas-powered cars (ICE) where I could not hear any engine sound at all. And guess what? I'm still here to type this because the drivers of those vehicles were looking where they were going and did not run me over. According to the law, it is ultimately the driver's responsibility to prevent the incident (by not running over people).
.
...maybe we should require blind people to wear noise makers and strobe lights
.
.
.
.
.

It's not just the drivers responsibility, The pedestrians can't just walk into the middle of the street and expect traffic to stop for them. If you get hit by a car, it's not the make of the cars fault. It's either yours or the drivers, or both.

[hill]

Originally Posted by BIGGDOGG

It's not just the drivers responsibility, The pedestrians can't just walk into the middle of the street and expect traffic to stop for them. If you get hit by a car, it's not the make of the cars fault. It's either yours or the drivers, or both.

Obviously you've never been to NYC ... where it's ALWAYS the ped's fault

[carz89]

Originally Posted by hill

Obviously you've never been to NYC ... where it's ALWAYS the ped's fault

Wow! Finally my suspicions are confirmed! I've always wondered about the pedestrian laws in NYC after witnessing many automobile-pedestrian altercations on TV shows and movies. So there really are laws about jaywalking? And I thought that was just a funny-sounding slang term that was never enforced.

[FBear]

If this is all the House of Representatives has to work on then as far as I am concerned they can all go home for recess permenantly. With the price of gas what it is and our illustrious President riding rough shod over the Constitution, while they worry about how much noise or no noise a Prius makes is absurd.

[jeffreykb]

-Has any organizations that represent the blind population made an official statement on the (potential) issue or the proposed requirement?

-What if the majority of motorized vehicles were silent...Would a noise maker be the solution to such a potetial danger?

[donee]

Hi Jeffreykb,

The fact that most cars make engine noise generally audible from the rear, and consequently as the car is moving away from a blind pedestrian is a hazard for the blind pedestrian - right now!

Stand on the side of a 25 to 40 mph road, and listen to the cars go by. As they approach you will hear tire noise. Once they are within 10 feet or so (far to close to stop) you will begin to hear the engine noise. And after they pass, you will hear the exhaust noise. That exhaust noise can cover up noise from other approaching vehicles.

[fiddledee]

This whole noise thing is stupid. I know it's politically incorrect to say this (buying a Prius is the ONLY politically correct thing I have done that I know of) but we provide means for handicapped folks to cope with the majority of the world: crosswalks which I pay for with my taxes, seeing eye dogs, etc. I mean, are they going to start putting toots and whistles on bicycles and skateboards too? I am always careful while driving to look out for stupid people ... most of whom can see, hear, etc.
Also I decided that if this noise thing gets to be a big issue, I'm going to put a big white fin on my white Prius and somehow rig it so the Theme from "Jaws" comes on anytime it goes into stealth mode. Seems appropriate music for the "silent killer".

[Stivo]

I think most of you are taking this issue not serious enough.

I live in switzerland, in a small little quiet village with very little traffic. I hardly ever have to wait to let a car go by as a pedestrian, so I just listen to see if there is anyone coming. And I am a bit scared there could be a prius coming I dont hear. I am not blind.
I mean basically on low traffic streets with more pedestrians than cars it is a valid issue, not only for the blind. And I heard from a prius owner that returned it just because of having too much dangerous situations where pedestrians could not hear it.
And that thing is designed so that the sound is outside, not inside.

Even if you are a good enough driver to prevent all accidents with unsuspecting pedestrians, it will always be a stressful situation.