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Japan rethinks silent hybrid cars

BBC -- Japan is considering the introduction of noise-making devices for near-silent hybrid cars following safety fears from vision-impaired pedestrians.

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Submitted Jul 04, 2009 By: Timberline

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:8,194 Points:459,205 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2009 9:13:20 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse I hope all those who called this BS and think it's just idiotic, I hope for your sakes, you never will experience visual impairedness.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:8,194 Points:459,205 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2009 9:12:40 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse and it doesn't have to be "noise pollution" - fossil fuel cars make probably more noise than what this would need to keep visually impaired folks aware.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:8,194 Points:459,205 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2009 9:11:41 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse doesn't have to be much noise, just enough to notice the oncoming traffic closing in.
niceguytx Champion Author Houston Posts:8,117 Points:1,578,500 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 4:57:30 PM Ignore niceguytx Report Abuse I don't know the answer, but I don't like making noise for no good purpose.
Tucker1961 Sophomore Author Seattle Posts:202 Points:21,125 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 4:27:06 PM Ignore Tucker1961 Report Abuse I think the should put bigger tires on the hybrids, so they won't get damaged when they run over pedestrians
carlsonguitars Champion Author Portland Posts:3,514 Points:564,795 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 1:18:51 PM Ignore carlsonguitars Report Abuse Survival of the fittest... nah, just kidding.... But seriously, it's the driver half of the time!!!
Chazzy12 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:1,979 Points:387,190 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 12:18:52 PM Ignore Chazzy12 Report Abuse What?
celtic14 All-Star Author Florida Posts:956 Points:1,127,705 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 12:12:29 PM Ignore celtic14 Report Abuse Looks like this BS has now crossed the Pacific. One last time: hybrids are NOT silent! My wife is 100% deaf in one ear and she can easily hear the engine on her Civic hybrid.
bluebird1 Champion Author Toronto Posts:9,837 Points:1,974,710 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 12:11:37 PM Ignore bluebird1 Report Abuse It's an issue easily solved if people agree on it...please no beeping like trucks backing up. Asfor tampatim below, lots of sense...the diesel VW gets better mpg (at least highway) & much more power than the hybrid. Haven't seen the commercial yet...where does the new Beetle come into it????
gas_too_high Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,270 Points:826,070 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 12:03:06 PM Ignore gas_too_high Report Abuse This has been talked about in the US. There will probably be US regulations at some point.
dl72 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:1,590 Points:282,535 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:57:47 AM Ignore dl72 Report Abuse I have heard this is an issue.
tampatim Veteran Author Albuquerque Posts:291 Points:555,595 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:54:42 AM Ignore tampatim Report Abuse Reminds me of the new Volkswagen commercial! Where the black lovebug is talking to his neighbor, who is washing his new Prius, about the new Diesel TDI. The VW sounds like a muscle car and gets better mileage than the Prius, which makes no noise!
mchinte1 All-Star Author Washington Posts:972 Points:205,070 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:54:37 AM Ignore mchinte1 Report Abuse I agres
ftsgt Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,558 Points:1,513,575 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:54:29 AM Ignore ftsgt Report Abuse couldbe a problem
OHMS Champion Author Orange County Posts:6,754 Points:741,335 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:54:03 AM Ignore OHMS Report Abuse little beeps like the traffic semaphores put out to lure vision impaired pedestrians
KerryDeland Champion Author Florida Posts:2,326 Points:454,880 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:51:20 AM Ignore KerryDeland Report Abuse That's the problem right now. Japan is rethinking ... and we're not!!
thirstyauto Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:4,678 Points:471,325 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:49:35 AM Ignore thirstyauto Report Abuse Yup, just what we need - more noise!
arvo87 Champion Author New Mexico Posts:2,763 Points:549,925 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:49:21 AM Ignore arvo87 Report Abuse wow, a car so silent that it needs artificial noise... I wonder if you could turn it off or on for highway driving versus urban driving? maybe with a speed sensor... above 45 and it turns off
phurburger Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,206 Points:461,100 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:48:37 AM Ignore phurburger Report Abuse Oh, so now it's okay to make all kinds of noise in public!
POPSAZ All-Star Author Arizona Posts:624 Points:203,190 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:44:24 AM Ignore POPSAZ Report Abuse now we are making noixe polution
NorthglennBill Champion Author Denver Posts:2,356 Points:448,175 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:43:41 AM Ignore NorthglennBill Report Abuse They will probably sell more of them if they make it sound like a muscle car. And it will give me something to laugh at every time one drives by.
Valricoslash Champion Author Tampa Posts:1,013 Points:239,580 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:43:11 AM Ignore Valricoslash Report Abuse Oh, the unintended consequences! Can you cet one that sounds like a Harley?
mazdaboy Champion Author Portland Posts:2,201 Points:972,350 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:42:29 AM Ignore mazdaboy Report Abuse Wouldn't it be better to put a device in silent cars that send some kind of sound to special device carried only by the vision impaired than to make noise that everyone can hear every where you go?
PathfinderSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:3,674 Points:687,625 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:38:58 AM Ignore PathfinderSC Report Abuse Grins - Make it sound like a GTO.
Bigwaynef Champion Author South Carolina Posts:3,085 Points:954,765 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:38:16 AM Ignore Bigwaynef Report Abuse What we need is to keep pedestrians off the road. Secondly I like noise.
RichardoB Champion Author North Carolina Posts:2,056 Points:895,035 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:37:39 AM Ignore RichardoB Report Abuse Unbelievably stupid.
twiper1 Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,070 Points:458,970 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:37:04 AM Ignore twiper1 Report Abuse Not a problem for me
vegaland Champion Author Houston Posts:1,657 Points:353,590 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:35:42 AM Ignore vegaland Report Abuse Just put a radio speaker on the outside.
ampinoy13 Champion Author Oregon Posts:23,074 Points:1,674,645 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:33:30 AM Ignore ampinoy13 Report Abuse Shhhh! There's too much noise pollution as it is. Like me playing Princess Princess and Chisato Moritaka (both great Japanese artists) as loud as I can.
fsuford Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:8,917 Points:1,732,990 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:32:53 AM Ignore fsuford Report Abuse I drive a hybrid, and my blind friends say this is not an issue. If drivers would just pay attention, it isn't a problem. Also, visually impaired people tend to be smarter about crossing at crosswalks than those who are sighted, who don't look where they are going and walk in front of cars.
jiamusi45 Champion Author Calgary Posts:1,146 Points:64,085 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:32:40 AM Ignore jiamusi45 Report Abuse I can see them makeing a movie out of this. Those little silent wonders.
Ticoman54 Champion Author Miami Posts:1,819 Points:423,560 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:32:22 AM Ignore Ticoman54 Report Abuse I can see in congested urban areas where this could be a problem. However, it appears to me that the problem would be more prevalent at busy intersections where traffic control devices exist, such as the walk/don't walk devices. These devices could be used utilizing sound making tools to alert pedestrians of when it is safe to cross. I know this technolgy has existed for decades as they were in place in the mid 1970's at Florida State University due to the high enrollment of blind students.
fuelconscious Veteran Author Los Angeles Posts:379 Points:138,045 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:29:12 AM Ignore fuelconscious Report Abuse silent cars are becoming reality and more accessible. how about a built in zapping device for the visually imparred.
ghmortensen Veteran Author Minnesota Posts:400 Points:710,480 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:28:27 AM Ignore ghmortensen Report Abuse Ditto electric cars.
spudly03 Champion Author Boise Posts:1,140 Points:276,740 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:28:12 AM Ignore spudly03 Report Abuse I wonder how many people have been run over so far because of this?
ChEPhD Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:1,050 Points:212,470 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:22:39 AM Ignore ChEPhD Report Abuse i kind of like the hybrid vehicles being so quiet its nice to not have so much noise pollution and have more signages for drivers
LocalSpyGuy Champion Author Tampa Posts:2,144 Points:456,980 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:22:18 AM Ignore LocalSpyGuy Report Abuse Maybe they can be equiped with some sort of radar device.
MG_Sputnik Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:2,590 Points:874,015 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:22:09 AM Ignore MG_Sputnik Report Abuse Sounds good!
altima2008 Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:2,378 Points:597,055 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:17:33 AM Ignore altima2008 Report Abuse Not a bad idea. My stepdaughter is visionally impaired so that would help her out alot when she is out there.
rbrowdersr Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,425 Points:839,035 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:16:11 AM Ignore rbrowdersr Report Abuse Just as usual. A certain segment of society isn't remembered until later.
tidbitKY Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,445 Points:282,145 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:14:39 AM Ignore tidbitKY Report Abuse Good idea for countries with a large population in a small area.
BKool Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,149 Points:1,273,595 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:12:57 AM Ignore BKool Report Abuse Making sound like a '68 Camarro with 525 h.p.!
kenjamin5150 Rookie Author Lincoln Posts:6 Points:1,450 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:11:32 AM Ignore kenjamin5150 Report Abuse Reminds me of those gimmicky "deer alerts" that were sold in the 90's to scare deer away from you as you drove your car on the highway.
ladyjj Champion Author Tennessee Posts:14,875 Points:427,710 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 11:10:45 AM Ignore ladyjj Report Abuse Seems like they forgot about these folks when they started making these things!
USAFA82 Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:4,012 Points:714,965 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:58:51 AM Ignore USAFA82 Report Abuse They sneak up on you in parking lots.
WP62 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:1,310 Points:943,570 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:58:48 AM Ignore WP62 Report Abuse Any vehicle is dangerous to a vision-impaired pedestrian. What about bicycles?
CptnCanada Champion Author Saskatoon Posts:1,951 Points:289,000 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:57:51 AM Ignore CptnCanada Report Abuse wont help when you drive faster than the speed of sound.
148366 Champion Author Spokane Posts:3,646 Points:923,500 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:56:42 AM Ignore 148366 Report Abuse Sounds good now if some brains can be installed in people we might have something.
Sportdeck Champion Author Atlanta Posts:7,511 Points:1,438,650 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:55:05 AM Ignore Sportdeck Report Abuse I love the VW TDI ad where the neighbor has to make the sound that his car makes! lol.
hank1326 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,201 Points:600,495 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:54:34 AM Ignore hank1326 Report Abuse Interesting concept. Would this increase the cost?