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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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cathevan Champion Author Manitoba Posts:1,328 Points:358,450 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:35:11 AM Ignore cathevan Report Abuse something to consider for sure
goldilox88 All-Star Author Montreal Posts:817 Points:342,155 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:34:25 AM Ignore goldilox88 Report Abuse never thought of it. makes sense.
thwadi Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,006 Points:425,640 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:34:19 AM Ignore thwadi Report Abuse I have been in some towns that have voices added to the walk don't walk signs to aid the blind in knowing when to cross. Then they don't have to rely on traffic noise. I don't recall ever seeing a blind jaywalker.
captngasTN All-Star Author Tennessee Posts:776 Points:157,255 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:34:10 AM Ignore captngasTN Report Abuse Get the electric car up say 300 miles between charges and then worry about the rest.
SgtWalleye Veteran Author Iowa Posts:331 Points:134,480 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:33:44 AM Ignore SgtWalleye Report Abuse Go diesel
mk9999 Champion Author Rochester Posts:1,572 Points:417,290 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:33:15 AM Ignore mk9999 Report Abuse I agree, they need to make some noise.
briank299 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:9,849 Points:1,816,500 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:31:58 AM Ignore briank299 Report Abuse Being a cyclist, I have had many a Hybrid car "sneak up" on me during a ride. We cyclists rely on our hearing, as well as our vision to alert us to approaching cars. These hybrids cannot be heard! Cyclists, children playing in the street, as well as the visually impaired are at risk with these 'silent killers' on the road. If you drive a hybrid, PLEASE give a light toot of the horn well in advance of passing any pedestrian or cyclist to ensure that your presence is known.
jd2009 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:1,105 Points:288,740 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:30:03 AM Ignore jd2009 Report Abuse Dumb idea ... how much will it cost
throttle Champion Author Maryland Posts:6,416 Points:1,377,010 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:26:41 AM Ignore throttle Report Abuse I agree...stupid idea.
saveongasNC Champion Author North Carolina Posts:2,034 Points:446,775 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:26:37 AM Ignore saveongasNC Report Abuse Go for it.
Theczecho Champion Author Long Island Posts:1,028 Points:346,090 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:26:04 AM Ignore Theczecho Report Abuse Stupid idea
dollarwatcher Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:1,544 Points:275,825 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:26:04 AM Ignore dollarwatcher Report Abuse I've been saying this all along. Put stones in the hub caps.
Fataugie Veteran Author Rochester Posts:426 Points:229,100 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:25:57 AM Ignore Fataugie Report Abuse They should play recorded Harley Davidson's with straight pipes...
TeachR06 Champion Author Raleigh Posts:2,663 Points:812,695 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:25:33 AM Ignore TeachR06 Report Abuse don't do it. Maybe make intersections safer by having something go off when cars enter an intersection but don't add more noise to a car. who wants a vehicle that sounds like a parade going by?
checkum Champion Author St. Louis Posts:2,617 Points:477,980 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:24:53 AM Ignore checkum Report Abuse I say take it a step further. make cars stealthy....no more radar tickets.
tankneverfull Champion Author Charlotte Posts:2,766 Points:541,570 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:23:35 AM Ignore tankneverfull Report Abuse Seems reasonable and a well thought out plan for what appears to be a real concern.
AvantiMick Champion Author Indiana Posts:6,690 Points:1,331,950 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:22:52 AM Ignore AvantiMick Report Abuse There are crosswalks for people. A silent car is not a problem, if so, honk the horn.
jmg144 Champion Author Maryland Posts:6,394 Points:1,757,280 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:22:22 AM Ignore jmg144 Report Abuse Political correctness - what are car-makers going to do for vision-impaired persons - how about an automatic horn that goes on every ten seconds.
armstrmb Champion Author Houston Posts:3,889 Points:829,680 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:17:00 AM Ignore armstrmb Report Abuse For producing a car that produces less chemical pollution, we praise the automaker. For making a car that produces less sound pollution, we add the sound pollution back in to the car. It is a good thing that the blind people were not offended by the lack of street-level carbon monoxide.
Lengas Champion Author Gary Posts:6,760 Points:1,453,610 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:15:41 AM Ignore Lengas Report Abuse Day late and a dollar short.
gasman50 Champion Author Portland Posts:2,489 Points:1,151,630 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:15:34 AM Ignore gasman50 Report Abuse more government regulation
ironbox_sara Champion Author Albany Posts:3,291 Points:1,027,160 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:14:37 AM Ignore ironbox_sara Report Abuse Good idea.
SheRides Veteran Author Louisiana Posts:459 Points:829,575 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:14:35 AM Ignore SheRides Report Abuse If drivers stayed off of cellphones & paid attention, the problem wouldn't be so bad.
BHSJackson Veteran Author Indiana Posts:365 Points:127,480 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:14:33 AM Ignore BHSJackson Report Abuse Isnt that called a horn?
unloquacious Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,546 Points:664,885 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:12:32 AM Ignore unloquacious Report Abuse Invite the blind of Japan to come live in Washington DC, then the blind could be led by the blind!
BumbleBeeOK Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:1,377 Points:224,260 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:12:24 AM Ignore BumbleBeeOK Report Abuse Silent cars was a dumb idea in the first place. Japan also bombed Pearl Harbor.
largobob Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,380 Points:2,116,160 Joined:Dec 2003	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:11:19 AM Ignore largobob Report Abuse just kill the pedestrians. most of them that get whacked deserve it. they amble out into 45 mph traffic nowhere near a crosswalk and expect vehicles to stop on a dime for them. i say open season.
ERO Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:14,539 Points:2,421,195 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:10:57 AM Ignore ERO Report Abuse Maybe a few playing cards stuck in the wheels... Ahh- most cars are near silent when stopped...
abuck Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:1,577 Points:318,110 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:09:06 AM Ignore abuck Report Abuse If drivers paid attention, it wouldn't be much of an issue.
Pozole Champion Author Portland Posts:2,420 Points:471,190 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:08:21 AM Ignore Pozole Report Abuse ...bring back the VVRROOOM engine [Mattel?]...
Yonkers111 Champion Author Scranton Posts:5,432 Points:417,490 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:06:29 AM Ignore Yonkers111 Report Abuse Such problems.
Marson Champion Author Scranton Posts:2,943 Points:860,795 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:05:44 AM Ignore Marson Report Abuse Musin like ice cream trucks sounds good!
CharlieC08 Champion Author Colorado Posts:2,352 Points:363,320 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:05:42 AM Ignore CharlieC08 Report Abuse Ask a Harley rider.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:6,272 Points:1,113,505 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:02:58 AM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse new prius rumbles to the light, then insight burns rubber in a cloud of smoke ? how about music like ice cream trucks ?
arnerator Champion Author Seattle Posts:1,784 Points:370,260 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:02:01 AM Ignore arnerator Report Abuse Yikes...never thought of that.
DABEE1073 Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,528 Points:311,535 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:00:24 AM Ignore DABEE1073 Report Abuse I CONCUR WITH MADISON8359. PEOPLE ARE TOO BUSY ON CELL PHONES AND PUTTING ON MAKEUP TO WATCH TO PEDESTRIANS.
cincindie Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:9,784 Points:1,936,545 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 7:57:56 AM Ignore cincindie Report Abuse Probably be better to have a switch that can turn on a noisemaker on local streets. But then, drivers will probably choose to leave it off all the time.
psuray All-Star Author Hartford Posts:889 Points:213,075 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 7:57:11 AM Ignore psuray Report Abuse all good intentions have their price
techque Champion Author St. Louis Posts:2,458 Points:1,256,510 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 7:55:37 AM Ignore techque Report Abuse bicycles and rickshaws make no sound . . . should they have sound makers installed (maybe playing cards?) ??
sammy09 Veteran Author Twin Cities Posts:270 Points:167,550 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 7:54:31 AM Ignore sammy09 Report Abuse the real question is who designed the cars - engineers or lawyers?
vabites Champion Author Florida Posts:2,058 Points:374,940 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 7:52:24 AM Ignore vabites Report Abuse maybe it's a good idea since blind persons might have a tough time finding the crosswalks? And a driver will not be liable then for striking a person who walks out from between parked cars too? I dunno. Most of us can't really visualize what living in Japan is like. No sense in getting worked up over their problems, we have enough over here.
cableman31 Champion Author New York Posts:2,616 Points:788,765 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 7:51:10 AM Ignore cableman31 Report Abuse GOOD IDEA.
DerHahn Champion Author Illinois Posts:6,214 Points:861,995 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 7:50:33 AM Ignore DerHahn Report Abuse there is a blind man downtown here that won't cross the street unless someone walks him. we have several hybrids around here. but at his age, he doesn't hear as well anymore.
PrepHermit Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,829 Points:391,295 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 7:50:21 AM Ignore PrepHermit Report Abuse Then another group of people will complain about noise pollution.
Tundralimited2009 All-Star Author Dallas Posts:798 Points:232,955 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 7:48:55 AM Ignore Tundralimited2009 Report Abuse Let's get off the road, no noise
03mdx Champion Author Syracuse Posts:1,135 Points:373,535 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 7:48:06 AM Ignore 03mdx Report Abuse Something that should have been thought about before the cars were put on the street. This will add to the cost, making hybrids even more costly.
gvan Champion Author Chicago Posts:12,702 Points:1,590,570 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 7:45:41 AM Ignore gvan Report Abuse Hybrids are quiet when in battery mode but so are regular gasoline powered vehicles. It's hard to beleive that someone has not been surprised by a non-hybrid vehicle. Should we make them noisier too?
Lovelee Champion Author Detroit Posts:12,379 Points:804,725 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 7:44:23 AM Ignore Lovelee Report Abuse What about less conscious every day human beings.
bumpygas Champion Author Nebraska Posts:2,164 Points:678,815 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 7:44:13 AM Ignore bumpygas Report Abuse Give the pedestrians glasses.
jb107 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,465 Points:1,372,405 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 7:40:52 AM Ignore jb107 Report Abuse You will never know what hit you.
Tommy4Wheel Champion Author Wilmington Posts:23,518 Points:1,845,775 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 7:40:14 AM Ignore Tommy4Wheel Report Abuse Buy a Harley!...Loud Pipes Saves Lives! [Edited by: Tommy4Wheel at 7/4/2009 8:41:03 AM EST]