I would be willing to support a system that allows us to turn the sound on and off. If I'm driving through a crowd of people or there are some kids nearby or a guy with red paint on the end of his walking stick, I can turn it on. But otherwise, I will have it off. That would work. So, why not have a switch where we can turn it on and off - then the public will realize how annoying it would be if the sound was always on.

Oh, and we can always honk the horn too.
(but a separate sound would be better because honking the horn at a crowd of people could be seen as an agressive action; whereas the sound maker would be viewed as responsible)

update: The author says "So despite never encountering the local Prius or RX400h at those junctions.." Obviously he has never heard a hybrid. There are THREE RX400hs in my neighborhood and whenever they stop at the stop sign in front of my house there is loud whirrr of the generator. It surely gets my ears' attention a lot more than a gasoline car does.

Hi All,

I have heard a RX400h in electric mode behind me about 10 yards back. They give off a distinct inverter whine. Which is actually louder than the tires. From that aspect, and the fact that many car engines cannot be heard over the tires, when they are coasting along like this RX400h was, the RX400h is safer than those cars.

also have something called a horn as well as tires that make noise. what a bunch of bs crap. not you guys but the folks that think this is an important thing they need to legislate. what are the stats of dead folks caused by quiet hybrids. have you ever heard a high end car go by. very silent.

When American carmakers start making large numbers of hybrid-electrics and electrics this issue will go away (as will any noisemakers implemented in the meantime).

Quiet is a big attraction with this Prius. I like when it's totally quiet at a stoplight.

I would not like it if these cars were forced to emit some kind of noise all the time. That would be ridiculous.

Also, in one year, I have not had one incident of scaring anyone, anywhere, nor has there been a close call with a blind person.