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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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captngasTN Champion Author Tennessee Posts:1,730 Points:424,265 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:34:10 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:338 Points:152,695 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:33:44 AM Ignore SgtWalleye Report Abuse Go diesel
mk9999 Champion Author Rochester Posts:2,952 Points:691,245 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:33:15 AM Ignore mk9999 Report Abuse I agree, they need to make some noise.
briank299 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:11,347 Points:2,095,345 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:31:58 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:1,783 Points:556,650 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:30:03 AM Ignore jd2009 Report Abuse Dumb idea ... how much will it cost
throttle Champion Author Maryland Posts:7,847 Points:1,650,205 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:26:41 AM Ignore throttle Report Abuse I agree...stupid idea.
saveongasNC Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,287 Points:721,000 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:26:37 AM Ignore saveongasNC Report Abuse Go for it.
Theczecho Champion Author Long Island Posts:1,547 Points:445,030 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:26:04 AM Ignore Theczecho Report Abuse Stupid idea
dollarwatcher Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:2,982 Points:558,775 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:26:04 AM Ignore dollarwatcher Report Abuse I've been saying this all along. Put stones in the hub caps.
Fataugie Veteran Author Rochester Posts:438 Points:247,015 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:25:57 AM Ignore Fataugie Report Abuse They should play recorded Harley Davidson's with straight pipes...
TeachR06 Champion Author Raleigh Posts:3,535 Points:1,012,760 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:25:33 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:3,330 Points:659,465 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:24:53 AM Ignore checkum Report Abuse I say take it a step further. make cars stealthy....no more radar tickets.
tankneverfull Champion Author Charlotte Posts:4,217 Points:825,495 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:23:35 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:8,006 Points:1,599,420 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:22:52 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:6,735 Points:2,004,030 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:22:22 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:5,321 Points:1,109,705 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:17:00 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:8,365 Points:1,737,125 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:15:41 AM Ignore Lengas Report Abuse Day late and a dollar short.
gasman50 Champion Author Portland Posts:3,904 Points:1,432,690 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:15:34 AM Ignore gasman50 Report Abuse more government regulation
ironbox_sara Champion Author Albany Posts:4,696 Points:1,292,650 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:14:37 AM Ignore ironbox_sara Report Abuse Good idea.
SheRides Veteran Author Louisiana Posts:473 Points:1,049,405 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:14:35 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:385 Points:131,680 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:14:33 AM Ignore BHSJackson Report Abuse Isnt that called a horn?
unloquacious Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,560 Points:697,640 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:12:32 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:2,310 Points:398,460 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:12:24 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:12,868 Points:2,399,110 Joined:Dec 2003	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:11:19 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:16,184 Points:2,705,120 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:10:57 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:3,264 Points:586,170 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:09:06 AM Ignore abuck Report Abuse If drivers paid attention, it wouldn't be much of an issue.
Pozole Champion Author Portland Posts:3,169 Points:615,730 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:08:21 AM Ignore Pozole Report Abuse ...bring back the VVRROOOM engine [Mattel?]...
Yonkers111 Champion Author Scranton Posts:6,328 Points:536,820 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:06:29 AM Ignore Yonkers111 Report Abuse Such problems.
Marson Champion Author Scranton Posts:4,364 Points:1,141,795 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:05:44 AM Ignore Marson Report Abuse Musin like ice cream trucks sounds good!
CharlieC08 Champion Author Colorado Posts:3,802 Points:646,270 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:05:42 AM Ignore CharlieC08 Report Abuse Ask a Harley rider.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:7,963 Points:1,392,240 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:02:58 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:3,222 Points:651,185 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:02:01 AM Ignore arnerator Report Abuse Yikes...never thought of that.
DABEE1073 Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,968 Points:593,760 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:00:24 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 8:57:56 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:919 Points:223,650 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:57:11 AM Ignore psuray Report Abuse all good intentions have their price
techque Champion Author St. Louis Posts:3,867 Points:1,520,565 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:55:37 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:277 Points:333,790 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:54:31 AM Ignore sammy09 Report Abuse the real question is who designed the cars - engineers or lawyers?
vabites Champion Author Florida Posts:3,186 Points:594,300 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:52:24 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:4,022 Points:1,066,830 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:51:10 AM Ignore cableman31 Report Abuse GOOD IDEA.
DerHahn Champion Author Illinois Posts:8,094 Points:1,145,075 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:50:33 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:3,255 Points:672,480 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:50:21 AM Ignore PrepHermit Report Abuse Then another group of people will complain about noise pollution.
Tundralimited2009 Champion Author Dallas Posts:2,557 Points:514,500 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:48:55 AM Ignore Tundralimited2009 Report Abuse Let's get off the road, no noise
03mdx Champion Author Syracuse Posts:1,953 Points:622,745 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:48:06 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:14,459 Points:1,863,855 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:45:41 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:14,370 Points:1,070,825 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:44:23 AM Ignore Lovelee Report Abuse What about less conscious every day human beings.
bumpygas Champion Author Nebraska Posts:3,494 Points:956,475 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:44:13 AM Ignore bumpygas Report Abuse Give the pedestrians glasses.
jb107 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,674 Points:1,642,040 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:40:52 AM Ignore jb107 Report Abuse You will never know what hit you.
Tommy4Wheel Champion Author Wilmington Posts:25,664 Points:2,128,470 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:40:14 AM Ignore Tommy4Wheel Report Abuse Buy a Harley!...Loud Pipes Saves Lives! [Edited by: Tommy4Wheel at 7/4/2009 8:41:03 AM EST]
KillChain Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:2,234 Points:598,600 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:39:25 AM Ignore KillChain Report Abuse Everyone is a victim.
CLM06 Champion Author Tampa Posts:4,679 Points:1,111,240 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:38:46 AM Ignore CLM06 Report Abuse Hear Here
dustymedic Rookie Author Columbus Posts:16 Points:385,625 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:38:09 AM Ignore dustymedic Report Abuse Cars provide almost as much noise pollution as they do air pollution.