Another Reason to Hate those Horrible Hybrids...

[ekpolk]

Well, being the proud and happy owner of a Prius myself, I've certainly heard more than one criticism of the cars (some valid, most not...). But there is one truly scary problem with them. When you're driving in what's come to be known as "stealth" mode (that is, running electric only), the car is darned near dead silent. Hence the name. Driving one, you really have to be aware and watch out. I've had several "step outs" myself. The looks on your near-victim's faces are memorable, and would probably be entertaining were the situation not so truly dangerous.

Well, apparently it's not just me being a reckless fool. Below, I've posted excerpts from an article about the soon-to-be released Gen-III Prius, due this fall as a 2008 model. This car is rumored to be coming with a lean-burn turbo 1.8L as its ICE, and depending upon source, will be good for 80-100 mpg city (the current car is 1.5L NA, rated at 60 city, I've managed low 50s on my best behavior).

Anyway, consider:

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Meanwhile, organisations for the blind are calling for noisier hybrids on the road. In the US, the National Federation of the Blind says that partially or non-sighted pedestrians are at risk of serious injury from the near-silent machines.

It's calling for the cars to be fitted with a device that produces a distinctive sound, louder than normal ambient levels. The Guide Dogs for the Blind association in the UK is backing the call. A spokesperson told us: "We are not running any active campaign, but would welcome any innovations that improve safety, particularly in urban areas, for blind and partially sighted people."*

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So, while the Prius seems to have the potential to do its part to reduce pollutants in the environment (

), it also seems to have the potential to reduce the number of blind persons therein, who alas, can't hear it coming (

))! I guess there really is no free lunch. . .

*quoted from www.autoexpress.co.uk , 2/21/07.

 

[CBDFrontier06]

Strange....from my observation of the traffic in my neighborhood, the tire noise is more noticable than the engine noise. People coast down my street all the time and you don't really hear the engine. Are your tires silent??

 

[Quest]

Knowing that noise is (*seriously*) considered to be another legit form of pollution, I would just keep the hybrids as quiet as possible, thank you very much.

I don't mind the introduction of signalling clicker (comes from relays) but engine whine/rumble/noise is not something desirable to begin with.

As for the remarks RE: noise for the blind and partially sighted people, I think that's poppycock for there are some extremely smooth, near silent Vee6/8 that would not make a sound when it approaches you and ditto with bikes. In that case should we make our peddle bikes noisy like we used to do when we were kids (add some sort of clicker at the back wheel...sheeesh!!!!) or make a smooth, quiet running Vee 8 noisy just because blind people cannot "hear" you coming??! Think about the logics here and one shall not be that hard to figure out whose the "idiot" here.... *grin*

Q.

 

[ekpolk]

I'm guessing that it varies with tire choice. I'm currently running Michelin MXV4 Pluses, which are very quiet (in addition to being LRR as well). Probably the most dangerous situation is when there is already a moderate amount of ambient noise which distracts from, or masks, what little noise the tires make.

Edit for typo.

 

[CBDFrontier06]

I'm with Quest on this one....quiet cars are a good thing.

 

[ekpolk]

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. . .
I don't mind the introduction of signalling clicker (comes from relays) but engine whine/rumble/noise is not something desirable to begin with.

As for the remarks RE: noise for the blind and partially sighted people, I think that's poppycock for there are some extremely smooth, near silent Vee6/8 that would not make a sound when it approaches you and ditto with bikes. In that case should we make our peddle bikes noisy like we used to do when we were kids (add some sort of clicker at the back wheel...sheeesh!!!!) or make a smooth, quiet running Vee 8 noisy just because blind people cannot "hear" you coming??! Think about the logics here and one shall not be that hard to figure out whose the "idiot" here.... *grin*

Q.

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Quest: Your real name isn't John Stoessel, is it? As for the rest, all I can say is I ain't makin' this stuff up! Now, I'm probably veering off into the insensitive, totally polically incorrect territory, but I was thinking maybe something akin to a deer whistle. Of course, I'd only be willing to use a certified low-drag model. . .

 

[Quest]

LOL ekpolk!

I'm an Chinese-Canadian so no, I'm not John Stoessel (FYI).

Political "incorrectness" is typical in Canadian (profile-wise).

Oh and BTW: I don't use low-drag model of dawg-whistle but a battery-operated handheld one (grin).

 

[LouDawg]

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The Guide Dogs for the Blind association in the UK is backing the call.

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I swear the first time I read that, I thought it said "barking" the call.

My mind...it's doing that...that....that thing again.

 

[hominid7]

Baseball card in the wheels? Ice cream truck loudspeaker with music playing?

Seriously though, blind or not, if someone steps out in front of your car it is their fault for not crossing at the corner.

I'm also confused as to why seeing eye dogs need to hear hybrids coming. Isn't it their job to SEE them coming?

 

[LouDawg]

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I'm also confused as to why seeing eye dogs need to hear hybrids coming. Isn't it their job to SEE them coming?

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Agreed...hence the term "seeing", eh? If you wanted a "hearing ear" dog, you'd have a different condition, I think.

 

[ekpolk]

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. . . I'm also confused as to why seeing eye dogs need to hear hybrids coming. Isn't it their job to SEE them coming?

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You're just being waaaaay too analytical with this. . .

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I'm also confused as to why seeing eye dogs need to hear hybrids coming. Isn't it their job to SEE them coming?

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Agreed...hence the term "seeing", eh? If you wanted a "hearing ear" dog, you'd have a different condition, I think.

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I do suppose that the deaf guy with a hearing ear dog be able himself to see the Prius coming just fine???

 

[hominid7]

Whatever the case, that deaf dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball!

 

[Tosh]

"The Guide Dogs for the Blind association in the UK is backing the call."

Are the guide dogs also blind?

 

[Vilan]

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Whatever the case, that deaf dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball!

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On a serious note, there are VERY few blind people, and there is no reason for them to be wandering aimlessly into the street. I'm sure they are careful to cross only at proper intersections where the noisiness of a car is unimportant. Any blind jaywalker is going to be

pretty quickly no matter what cars might be around.

 

[troberts]

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Whatever the case, that deaf dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball!

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WHO?

 

[LouDawg]

All kidding aside, at what point do we draw the line with this p.c. insanity? Yes, we should make reasonable accomodations to help people with disabilities. (That's right...I said it: "disabilities". Not "visually challenged", "hearing impaired", or whatever.)

At some point we have to be realistic about life and accept that there are some things that people are going to have to be able to do. We can't possibly accommodate every possible special need that people have. Non-disabled people have to function, too.

(rant over)

 

[JHZR2]

+10000

My fiancee is devoting her career, paying tens of thousands of dollars to learn how to help disabled kids... great for her, im really proud. But the PC that gets drummed in even makes her sick.

I know... I know... just wait until I need a wheelchair or have something horrible happen... riiight. There IS a difference between caring and being compassionate, and trying too hard and wasting everyones' money and time.

JMH

 

[Lonnie]

At the turn of the century (1900) there was a serious effort in New York to get a low passed that would require someone to walk ahead of any motor car and at every intersection, this guide person was required to fire off a Roman-candle. At the approach of a horse the car would have to be moved off the road and covered with a tarp or be dismantled so that it no longer resembled a motor car.

These people trying to pass a law are going the wrong way. There should be a device mounted on the Prius that is listening for a signal from a device held by a blind person that will set off a real alarm warning on the Prius. The device held by the blind person could also let out an alarm, a voice could call out, "Danger Will Robinson", and the blind person would then be warned. They could pass the Blind Person's protection from the Prius Act and OCHA could set standards. Then lawyers could take blind people around looking for a Prius and sue the owner if the alarm fails to work, just like they do with small businesses and wheel chair access.

 

[hominid7]

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Whatever the case, that deaf dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball!

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WHO?

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Somebody got it!

 

[LouDawg]

Is there a big problem with people running over blind people?