Protecting The Blind From Silent Cars

New Measure Introduced To Congress Would Make Hybrid Cars Noisier

(AP)  A bill intended to protect blind people and other pedestrians from the dangers posed by quiet cars will be introduced Wednesday in Congress.

The measure would require the Transportation Department to establish safety standards for hybrids and other vehicles that make little discernible noise, including an audible means for alerting people that cars are nearby.

"The beneficial trend toward more environmentally friendly vehicles has had the unintended effect of placing the blind and other pedestrians in danger," said Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., who's sponsoring the bill with Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla.

The Baltimore-based National Federation of the Blind has pushed for the legislation to protect those who rely on their hearing to know when to cross the street.

While the organization is not aware of people being struck by cars they couldn't hear, NFB President Marc Maurer has said he fears it's only a matter of time.

Preliminary results of an ongoing study at the University of California-Riverside have indicated the cars pose some risk. The study found that hybrids operating at slow speeds must be 40 percent closer to pedestrians than combustion-engine vehicles before they make enough noise for their location to be detected.

Hybrid vehicles operate on battery-powered electric motors when idling and traveling at slow speeds; internal combustion engines, with their distinctive rumble, kick in when the cars speed up.

The bill would require the Transportation Department to conduct a two-year study before issuing safety standards. Automakers would than have two years to comply.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is planning a listening session this spring to consider possible solutions to the quiet-car problem and is already working with manufacturers.

Wade Newton, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said he couldn't comment on the bill's specifics but added that manufacturers were eager to address the issue.

Clarence Ditlow, president of the Center for Auto Safety, said he favored enhanced safety standards for quiet cars but wasn't sure a two-year study was necessary.

"It seems to me that if we can put audible signals on walk signs for the blind, then we can put an audible signal on a hybrid," Ditlow said.

[rf35]

I bet about 100 years ago, blind people were pissed at the very idea of the automobile.

[michellem99-2009]

Shut it mister. Right there..Yer think I asked to be blind..no I was born that way..IT IS THE SIGHTED THAT COULD LOST THEIR SIGHT AND THEY BE WHINING..I DON''T PITY YE..WE CAN''T SEE ..GET THAT THUR THAT BLIND BRAIN OF YOURS..

[michellem99-2009]

Gramma, I have the right of way all times..READ THE WHITE CANE LAW...I MUST BE ABLE TO KNOW WHERE THE CARS ARE IS AT..THEY ARE QUIET TO APEASE THEM WHO WANT IT SO..I SO HOPE THAT PASSES IN CONGRESS..My white cane gives me the right of at all times..It is asres that run the walk light..they blase their sound system tells me they are there. The corning cars.. Drivers is is rude to honk yer horn at us.. I CROSS AT CONRERS AND IF THERE IS A CROSS WALK.

[glock4me]

No matter what is done people will complain. Haven''t we all read about the poor people that won the lottery and it "ruined" their life.

Train the seeing-eye dogs to look out for quiet cars.

[grammawhamma]

I''m assuming hybrid cars come with a horn. Bicycles are also silent...should we install a noise making device on them too? People (handicapped or not) are supposed to cross at the crosswalk and drivers are supposed to watch out for and yield to pedestrians anyway. What is the problem?

[rf35]

cdfoxtrot, I like your idea. Thousands of people already walk around with those Bluetooth earpieces and are not paying attention to their surroundings as it is. I''d wager a percentage of these people are blind. What''s the big deal? Why not have an option on Bluetooth earpieces to beep when they receive a radio signal from cars. Not only the blind would benefit form such an addition.

[usbrit-2009]

I''m sorry but the idea of hundreds of hybrids sitting at lights sounding like a truck backing up does not appeal.

[nodemotwit]

Two aspects being totally overlooked :
====================================
1) What about the deaf and hard of hearing?
So what is the U_P_P_E_R limit on the proposed extra noise ?

2) What about future noise polluting delinquents ?

* ie: ''Bubba/bubbett'' and his/her glass-packed V8
* who currently lives their dream of rattling
* everyone elses glass and setting off car alarms at
* their mere passing.

* ie: Wanna-be gang bangers and homies with their
* buzz-bomb mufflered rice burners.

So, in the future
when we have these nice, quite fuel-cell electric vehicles,
when those in the city could then go outside and actually converse w/each other on the sidewalk w/o yelling,
are we going to allow auto dealers or the auto aftermarket to come up with uber ''exterior noise generators'' for these otherwise quiet vehicles, to artificially generate the gross levels of old-era gas engine noise pollution that the bubba''s of the world want to inflict on the rest of us ??

The less pollution, of any kind, the better.

[jseagle2]

I''m a totally blind individual and I think the idea of making hybrid car a bit lounder is a wonderful idea. From what I have read it will make it possible to know when a hybrid is idling at the light, so we as blind would know whe have the light to cross the street a bit more easier. Those people who think we should where an ear piece, why don''t you wear an ear piece to listen to your car radio? I would love my city to make all controled lights have an audible signal, but I know the blind are a small minority; so it will not happen.

[lochlan-2009]

Typical moronic government, appeasing a few at the expense of many. They can''t think of a better way to make cross walks easier. How about making the little blinking guy make noise, or put a motion sensor at major crosswalks. Make it mandatory for the blind to get a dog if they are going to walk in traffic. Why do people in this country love to put other people out for their benefit?

[petesis]

What do we need a new ridiculous law for? That is what the horn is for already. Blind people should stay out of the street.

[shanev137]

Geez, how many blind people walk around and cross the street everyday? I''m guessing it''s less than 100,000. And now you''re going to make tens of millions of cars louder for them? Wow.

[dan400man]

cdfoxtrot: As if the blind aren''t handicapped enough, and you want to make them take responsibility to wear an earpiece? How thoughtful. "unwilling to look where they''re going" - no doubt, those lazy blind people will just have to suck it up! Maybe we should keep them tethered at home. Sheesh. Walk a mile in their shoes, and report back.

Not saying that a silent or near-silent solution won''t be found, but have a little compassion for those less fortunate than you, through no fault of their own.

[cdfoxtrot]

Great. Those of us who spend time outdoors have an opportunity for a quieter experience with these new vehicles, but, no, we have to have them make noise, noise, noise. Isn''t there a smarter solution possible here -- maybe something on the front of the car that would send a signal to an earpiece that would be worn by people who are blind or otherwise unable or unwilling to look where they''re going? That would allow the rest of us -- the vast majority of people -- to enjoy the quiet.