Reflections

Electric, Hybrid Cars Need To Make Noise – A Hazard To Pedestrians

Posted by on May 24, 2010 | 4 Comments

In a recent study, it is being claimed that the quiet hybrid and electric cars are a hazard to pedestrians, since they do not make any sound when moving. The study further states that blind pedestrians are unable to hear the cars coming and that this adds poses an additional hazard. In an effort to provide safer vehicle, it is going to be proposed to congress that these quiet cars have sound added.

According to one article it stated that:

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Association of International Automobile Manufactures, the National Federation for the Blind, and the American Council for the Blind have banded together to propose language to be included in the Motor Safety Act of 2010. This bill would create a number of new safety rules for automakers; some of these rules are to address issues like unintended acceleration.

While the exact details of the proposed sounds for hybrid and electric cars are unknown, CNN reports that the sound would mimic the sound patterns of internal combustion engines at low speeds with rising intensity as the vehicle moves faster. This would allow blind pedestrians to determine if a vehicle was idle at a stop light or accelerating from a standstill. The NHTSA would be in charge of choosing the sound and setting the minimum level.

And for those looking to “pimp your ride”, you wouldn’t be able to customize the sound coming from the vehicle.

It is unfortunate that these silent vehicles pose a hazard. I for one was looking forward to the time that these electric cars became more plentiful and replaced the gasoline engine. The quietness I believed was going to be an advantage.

Comments welcome.

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  • Mike Weiler

    I think for one they should add the jake break sound to all cars approaching red lights and stop signs…you know the BAMB BAMB BAMB that a big rig does at it goes down hill or stops….I think this may be enough for people to hear…sigh…..when quiet is a bad thing…..in traffic and when the kids are quiet more than five minutes out of sight!

  • Dave

    Whilst I have every sympathy for folk who are blind or partially-sighted; to introduce mock-engine sounds to a “green” quiet vehicle seems, to my way of thinking, somewhat retrograde. There has got to be a better way, surely? Perhaps some sort of transponder on the vehicle coupled to a low-cost receiver for the blind pedestrian. Imagine the costs of rigging sounds to every production electric/hybrid vehicle that quite likely would not encounter a blind pedestrian for the whole of its life. I drive for a living in the UK and rarely encounter blind pedestrians. A balance has to be struck here, I think.

  • Krissi D

    I agree with Dave. I just bought a hybrid vehicle, and one of the things I really like about it is the lack of noise. I’ve driven for many years, and I can count on one hand the number of blind people of people I’ve encountered while driving. There does need to be a balance.