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New bill could make hybrid cars noisy to protect blind

New bill could make hybrid cars noisy to protect blind

Kenneth Hall April 8th, 2008 Kenneth Hall By Kenneth Hall Author April 8th, 2008
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December 31st, 1969 One of the benefits of hybrid vehicles is that they can often coast along on electric-power alone with the only sound emanating from the vehicle being a quiet whirr from its electric motor or a rustle from its tires, both of which are easily drowned out by ambient street sounds. Though this might be great for noise pollution, it poses a threat on blind and elderly pedestrians who rely on the sound of an engine to determine whether it’s safe to cross a street. Lawmakers in the U.S. have now heeded calls from pedestrian groups and plan to introduce a new bill in Congress tomorrow that will require the Transportation Department to establish safety standards for hybrids and other quiet vehicles, including an audible means for alerting people that cars are nearby. Backing the legislation is Baltimore-based National Federation of the Blind, although the group admits that it’s unaware of any cases of a blind person being struck by a car they couldn’t here, reports the Associated Press. Any changes are likely to be several years away at the earliest as the new bill also requires the Transportation Department to conduct a two-year study before issuing any safety standards. Carmakers then have a further two years to comply with the new changes. Some of the proposed solutions include placing speakers that constantly play the sound of an engine in hybrid cars. Sadly, we can see this becoming just the latest gimmick for individuals who want to make their ordinary cars stand out.
New bill could make hybrid cars noisy to protect blind

New bill could make hybrid cars noisy to protect blind

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One of the benefits of hybrid vehicles is that they can often coast along on electric-power alone with the only sound emanating from the vehicle being a quiet whirr from its electric motor or a rustle from its tires, both of which are easily drowned out by ambient street sounds. Though this might be great for noise pollution, it poses a threat on blind and elderly pedestrians who rely on the sound of an engine to determine whether it’s safe to cross a street.

Lawmakers in the U.S. have now heeded calls from pedestrian groups and plan to introduce a new bill in Congress tomorrow that will require the Transportation Department to establish safety standards for hybrids and other quiet vehicles, including an audible means for alerting people that cars are nearby.

Backing the legislation is Baltimore-based National Federation of the Blind, although the group admits that it’s unaware of any cases of a blind person being struck by a car they couldn’t here, reports the Associated Press.

Any changes are likely to be several years away at the earliest as the new bill also requires the Transportation Department to conduct a two-year study before issuing any safety standards. Carmakers then have a further two years to comply with the new changes.

Some of the proposed solutions include placing speakers that constantly play the sound of an engine in hybrid cars. Sadly, we can see this becoming just the latest gimmick for individuals who want to make their ordinary cars stand out.

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Posted in: News, Hybrid


Comments (7 total)

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  1. By james #1, Posted: 4/8/2008

    sue me for being ignorant but they shouldn't be crossing the street by themselves if they're blind.

  2. By eee #2, Posted: 4/8/2008

    Shouldn't the elderly look first before they cross the road?

  3. By buddylie #3, Posted: 4/8/2008

    howsabout this:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK18wQA-tHs

  4. By Gus #4, Posted: 4/8/2008

    You know, I would have thought this was a bunch of fooey, but a few months ago I almost got hit in a parking lot by a Prius whose engine hadn't switched on yet.
    But I was the one being stupid, so I still think this is a bunch of fooey...

  5. By Wizards Lore #5, Posted: 4/9/2008

    unless they are blind they should be looking both ways when walking in public (as should everyone)....as for the situations where they are blind, the seeign eye dog will see the car and stop accordingly.

  6. By germandude #6, Posted: 4/9/2008

    This is so stupid. First they complain hat cars are too loud, and finally, as a car comes along that makes no engine noise at all, it's too quiet. Governments all around the world are passing regulation and making carmakers' lives hard without having any technical knowlegde at all. They want safe, economical, quiet, fast cars, and all of the above within stupidly short time periods. That's why carmakers are forced to give us half-ass approaches like hybrids or ethanol powered cars.

  7. By james #7, Posted: 4/9/2008

    buddylie, that video is hysterical.

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