GM's Electric Cars Seek To Make Some Noise
How quiet is too quiet when it comes to electric and hybrid cars?
General Motors will announce it's working with an advocacy group for blind people to answer that question, according to a USA Today report Wednesday. The move comes amid mounting concern that the growing number of environmentally friendly vehicles may pose a threat to pedestrians, particularly the vision impaired.
As the report notes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded in September that more pedestrians and cyclists are being struck by hybrid cars than by conventional vehicles.
Congress is currently considering a bill - the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act - that would mandate a solution to the problem.
GM will work on a technological fix with the National Federation of the Blind, seemingly getting a jump on their competition. Toyota and Nissan say they're still studying the issue and Tesla isn't ready to give up on its noiseless running - an attribute they market to consumers.
GM plans to outfit the new Chevrolet Volt with a new pedestrian warning system - a short horn pulse comparable to a telephone ring that would go off as the driver operates the turn signal, according to the report.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. General Motors will announce it's working with an advocacy group for blind people to answer that question, according to a USA Today report Wednesday. The move comes amid mounting concern that the growing number of environmentally friendly vehicles may pose a threat to pedestrians, particularly the vision impaired.
As the report notes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded in September that more pedestrians and cyclists are being struck by hybrid cars than by conventional vehicles.
Congress is currently considering a bill - the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act - that would mandate a solution to the problem.
GM will work on a technological fix with the National Federation of the Blind, seemingly getting a jump on their competition. Toyota and Nissan say they're still studying the issue and Tesla isn't ready to give up on its noiseless running - an attribute they market to consumers.
GM plans to outfit the new Chevrolet Volt with a new pedestrian warning system - a short horn pulse comparable to a telephone ring that would go off as the driver operates the turn signal, according to the report.
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We should be working to get rid of traffic noise, not prolonging it. I have a hybrid car, and I love how quiet it is. I'll be damnned if I'm going to put a noise-maker on it. And if I bought a car with a noise-maker, I would disable it.
This is a real good example of antiquated, and thoroughly obsolete thinking. Another stupid knee-jerk reaction to a problem. This could become the classic example of a dumb solution.
Having said this, I think there is an issue here; however, we need to go back to square one, look for a new solution, and a better solution to turn this into a win/win. Some cars with gasoline engines are very quiet. What about older blind folks who don't hear so well?
Given the advanced state of our technologies, I refuse to believe we couldn't find a better solution than putting noise makers on cars. Whoever came up with that idea needs their head examined. Why not look for a way to make things better?
And let's get rid of the Knee Jerks.