1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Vehicle proximity notification system

Discussion in 'Prime Technical Discussion' started by ukr2, Jan 30, 2017.

  1. ukr2

    ukr2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2007
    1,009
    275
    31
    Location:
    Victor, NY
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    Can we ALL agree that we Don't like the "Vehicle proximity notification system"?
    I just checked and it's on my Prime.

    On the 2012 PIP someone figured out that behind the front-driver side wheel well cover was the speaker, that I disconnected. It was a pain removing the well cover, then reattaching it.

    Has anyone checked out how to disable it on the Prime?
    Can the Dealer turn it off?
     
  2. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2006
    5,963
    1,979
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Sorry to disagree, but I like the system. It's not very noisy, helps blind people avoid me, and sounds cool.
     
    citiprius, Valiant V and RonMc5 like this.
  3. CaliforniaPrius

    CaliforniaPrius Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
    313
    201
    0
    Location:
    Alameda, California
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    No issues here in crowded San Francisco.
     
  4. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,068
    15,372
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Been too cold so windows are up.

    Bob Wilson
     
  5. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,669
    6,485
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    You know who likes the vehicle proximity notification system?

    That's right.
    Lawyers.

    Disconnecting the speaker is pretty straight forward, but you'll want to make sure that you can reattach the connectors QUICKLY and quietly (pun almost unintended) in case you squish somebody's kid in a parking lot.
    Contrary to very widely held belief, lawyers aren't dumb.
    When they get clients who just had to bury a disabled loved one because somebody disconnected a vital safety system in their car, that evokes a very strong reaction from them!!
    - it sounds a lot like somebody winning the lottery.

    Good Luck!
     
    Valiant V, bps and Lee Jay like this.
  6. geguia

    geguia Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2016
    209
    108
    0
    Location:
    los angeles
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    hmm - i havent noticed. someone have link to the sound ?
     
  7. Daniel L

    Daniel L Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2011
    33
    28
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A


    It's that spaceship humm/electric sound
     
  8. geguia

    geguia Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2016
    209
    108
    0
    Location:
    los angeles
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    sounds cool.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    someone tried disconnecting it, but got an error message on the screen. looks like they're getting serious. they had to put a resistor in line to simulate the draw.
    check the options, you might have a volume control.
     
  10. CaliforniaPrius

    CaliforniaPrius Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
    313
    201
    0
    Location:
    Alameda, California
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I am a personal injury lawyer.

    I think it goes towards punitive damage and it is only compensable by regular car insurance in less than 30 states. In California that's a big no-no. Beyond your own car insurance, you need to pay out of your own pocket. A lien on your house is on the horizon. It is more serious than texting while driving as the driver can't really hear that sound. Disabling the sound equals DUI IMHO. However, usually there is not a lot of money out of an individual defendant unless he owns some business. I heard about wage garnishment but never did it before.

    It is easier than suing Toyota for product liability for example, the sound not readily audible by pedestrians, etc., b/c that's expensive. Tough on plaintiff lawyers on contingency basis. Besides the product has been modified by the final user. A product case may not stick.

    Another way to get a big number out of this kind of case is to hope the insurance company won't accept the policy limit demand. In California we call it CCP998. In that situation, the case could transform into insurance bad faith which is very lucrative. You are talking about multiplying numbers together.
     
    Valiant V likes this.
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i don't think it's required until 2018.
     
    Daniel L likes this.
  12. ukr2

    ukr2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2007
    1,009
    275
    31
    Location:
    Victor, NY
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    This Tone generator WON'T keep you out of court if you bump into anyone and they want to sue you.
    With or without it doesn't matter.
     
    Valiant V likes this.
  13. CaliforniaPrius

    CaliforniaPrius Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
    313
    201
    0
    Location:
    Alameda, California
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Yes. But if you disable it yourself, THEN something happened. That's a different story.

    Scenario 1: if Toyota has an option to disable such sound in the menu that an ordinary driver can get access to: it is a product liability case. Most probably you are off the hook because Toyota has deeper pocket than you. Usually the plaintiff lawyer will settle with your insurance company, get the money to fund rest of the lawsuit against Toyota. You are basically off the hook.

    Scenario 2: if somehow the driver disabled it by hacking the system: Toyota won't be on the hook. You are the only bad guy in the case to face the jury and judge.
     
    Valiant V and MTN like this.
  14. crewdog

    crewdog Acting Ensign Prius Prime

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2009
    492
    388
    6
    Location:
    Woodstock, GA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Here's a link to the NHTSA final rule for EV warning sounds from 11/2016:
    https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/quietcar_finalrule_11142016.pdf

    I can't help but think that eventually there will be penalties specified for disabling the system, much as there are penalties for disabling or tampering with pollution control systems on internal combustion vehicles.

    I found this on the National Federation of the Blind web site; check item no. 10:
    Courtesy Rules | National Federation of the Blind
     
    Valiant V and ruby like this.
  15. MAGARIVAR

    MAGARIVAR New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2017
    14
    3
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco Bay Are
    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    dealer can definitely help you out.
     
    thatoneraccoon likes this.
  16. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,068
    15,372
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I oppose disabling any safety feature built into a car. Rather I think it makes more sense to ask the NHTSA to conduct a study of the effect of the noise makers on safety. Having our bleepin' cars on the road generates a population that previously did not exist. We have the metrics from before the noise makers. As the population increases AND only one set of vehicles has them (i.e., not the ICE), we can do a proper study that compares cars with and without the noise makers and independently those with and without pedestrian and accident avoidance.

    The original statistical analysis were badly flawed although they did reveal a problem with "A" pillars. But there was no way to effectively challenge we lacked a population of bleepin' cars. So let's run the experiment and let empirical data test the hypothesis.

    Bob Wilson
     
    Chazz8 and bps like this.
  17. RJ Primw

    RJ Primw Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    65
    87
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    At my bank, the drive through ATM is against the side of the bank. At the end of the wall is a sidewalk that then crosses the drive through lane to a parking lot. Twice in my Gen2 I almost struck a pedestrian because I could not see them coming and they could not hear me coming. I am more than happy to have a signal so they hear me coming.
     
    Valiant V and bwilson4web like this.
  18. MAGARIVAR

    MAGARIVAR New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2017
    14
    3
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco Bay Are
    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    does using your stereo loud work in some situations?
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    definitely, if you have the top down.
     
    m.wynn and MAGARIVAR like this.
  20. MAGARIVAR

    MAGARIVAR New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2017
    14
    3
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco Bay Are
    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    that's what I thought as well...
     
    bisco likes this.