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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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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:6,137 Points:343,430 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:10:32 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse Number43: that's the dumbest comment I've seen in a long time. Blind people have nothing else but their hearing. How do you expect them to SEE? They are after all... BLIND!
bluenvoy Champion Author Nashville Posts:5,636 Points:870,390 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:08:55 AM Ignore bluenvoy Report Abuse This noise thing is horse hockey.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:6,137 Points:343,430 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:08:48 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse that's an interesting idea.
bbreff Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,799 Points:1,366,735 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:07:22 AM Ignore bbreff Report Abuse A car needs to make some noise when at idle. Otherwise, there are going to be a lot more accidents and injuries.
FordGuy48 Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:1,034 Points:259,470 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:06:56 AM Ignore FordGuy48 Report Abuse "So we all have to put up with noise pollution just so a few people can cross the street. I don't believe that blind people have any better hearing than the rest of us and I would not rely upon my hearing to confirm the presence of cars." Maybe one day you will have a disability that will make things harder, then perhaps you'll understand this. Give me a break! You probably don't like the idea that there are handicapped parking spaces either...........
bytebug Champion Author Orange County Posts:18,963 Points:2,878,005 Joined:Oct 2001	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:06:17 AM Ignore bytebug Report Abuse A noisemaker would be the first thing I removed if I bought a hybrid.
NJColt Champion Author New Jersey Posts:6,390 Points:1,385,630 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:05:55 AM Ignore NJColt Report Abuse who cares?
biza4u Champion Author New Haven Posts:2,163 Points:371,530 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:05:37 AM Ignore biza4u Report Abuse Support U S made vehicle and send the Jap cars back
Grismer Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo Posts:2,347 Points:499,625 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:05:08 AM Ignore Grismer Report Abuse The car horn was invented a while ago. What do vision impaired pedestrians currently do with near silent bycycles on the roads or side walks.
RedRam2005 Champion Author San Antonio Posts:2,457 Points:440,795 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:04:58 AM Ignore RedRam2005 Report Abuse The end of the stealth car
nyamar Sophomore Author Tucson Posts:124 Points:64,585 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:04:47 AM Ignore nyamar Report Abuse If they do this, that Volkswagen commercial is suddenly out of date!
ymiheere Rookie Author New Hampshire Posts:7 Points:3,490 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:04:37 AM Ignore ymiheere Report Abuse VISION-impaired??? Don't you mean HEARING-impaired?????? And so after perfecting the technology after all these years of trying to make gas engines quieter and quieter and quieter so as to not "disturb" people in their homes, now that we finally have quiet cars which we can drive and listen to some music in peace rather than over the noisy engine, we have to MAKE noise to alert that one in five million deaf jaywalker who can jump out in front of moving traffic WITHOUT LOOKING RIGHT OR LEFT to see any approaching traffic... I mean WE hybrid drivers who are doing our best to save our environment, WE have to cater to THEM!!! I say if anyone is STUPID enough to step into a road where cars travel without looking around him to see if he is stepping out in front of an approaching car, he NEEDS to receive a Darwin award (see the website darwin awards dot com). This is just STUPID political correctness gone haywire all over again. What's next? Ban making UGLY cars like the Pontiac Aztek for the non-vision-impaired?? Hmmm... come to think of it, that might not be such a bad idea after all!!! :D [Edited by: ymiheere at 7/4/2009 10:06:34 AM EST]
EXTREMESNOW Champion Author Oregon Posts:3,056 Points:668,735 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:02:58 AM Ignore EXTREMESNOW Report Abuse A noble thought.
915Chief Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,290 Points:448,120 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:01:44 AM Ignore 915Chief Report Abuse Are the going to clip playing cards to the spokes?
Number43 Champion Author Lexington Posts:2,034 Points:395,645 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:00:52 AM Ignore Number43 Report Abuse So we all have to put up with noise pollution just so a few people can cross the street. I don't believe that blind people have any better hearing than the rest of us and I would not rely upon my hearing to confirm the presence of cars.
yukonjack Champion Author Georgia Posts:3,302 Points:936,155 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:00:32 AM Ignore yukonjack Report Abuse A siren on the front that gets louder with speed might be the answer. :)
AC-302 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:12,279 Points:1,671,415 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:59:41 AM Ignore AC-302 Report Abuse I was thinking the same thing.. put a card in the wheels with a clothespin! But seriously, I can see this being a safety concern, there and here.
Wesk8 All-Star Author Michigan Posts:526 Points:401,835 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:55:48 AM Ignore Wesk8 Report Abuse Just stick a playing card in the spokes! hehehe
Jamer Champion Author Orange County Posts:2,544 Points:423,325 Joined:Jul 2002	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:55:03 AM Ignore Jamer Report Abuse This is something I never thought of.
Don20 Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:3,325 Points:1,367,500 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:53:24 AM Ignore Don20 Report Abuse At least they are thinking. I guess they can hang pots and pan on the outside so they look like a prospector looking for gold...
Phzuyx Sophomore Author Wichita Posts:149 Points:77,150 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:53:17 AM Ignore Phzuyx Report Abuse maybe they should make their hybrids without mufflers
akeatts Champion Author Tennessee Posts:1,343 Points:271,000 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:52:25 AM Ignore akeatts Report Abuse There is so much more important things to concentrate on...
Mooseman1 Champion Author Manitoba Posts:4,018 Points:659,010 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:52:15 AM Ignore Mooseman1 Report Abuse Very interesting.
captne76 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,913 Points:554,240 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:52:08 AM Ignore captne76 Report Abuse Some towns around here have these chirping bird noises built into the Walk/Don't Walk lights.
RoadhogMA All-Star Author Boston Posts:758 Points:215,190 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:51:51 AM Ignore RoadhogMA Report Abuse Take the mufflers away.
zornave Champion Author Louisville Posts:13,198 Points:2,097,125 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:51:22 AM Ignore zornave Report Abuse Highly economical, Cuzilla. :-)
macbeth2012 Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:1,339 Points:230,875 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:51:18 AM Ignore macbeth2012 Report Abuse Put my girlfriend on the hood, she's noisy
baitmn Champion Author New Orleans Posts:2,548 Points:846,750 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:51:02 AM Ignore baitmn Report Abuse It about time someone came to think about the rest of the world
must87searcher Champion Author Maryland Posts:2,705 Points:525,000 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:50:59 AM Ignore must87searcher Report Abuse It could reduce noise polution in some autos, but fuel combustion engines that are large also still make a lot of noised as well.
Tatalah Champion Author Riverside Posts:4,228 Points:1,268,040 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:50:54 AM Ignore Tatalah Report Abuse Nothing like the roar of an electric engine.
dondee118 Champion Author Kansas City Posts:2,549 Points:462,815 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:48:38 AM Ignore dondee118 Report Abuse 'Bout time, California figured this out a long time ago. Unfortunately, because they are so unfriendly to manufacturing and business, they couldn't do anything about it except complain.
SSchmidty Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,878 Points:556,015 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:48:14 AM Ignore SSchmidty Report Abuse Gee what will happen for electric-powered cars? ... besides the obvious NO NEED for pig-oil?!
rvn4me All-Star Author Texas Posts:564 Points:270,225 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:48:13 AM Ignore rvn4me Report Abuse Sometimes we dont think things thru befor we act.
CallJeffCa Champion Author Oakland Posts:2,004 Points:477,035 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:44:59 AM Ignore CallJeffCa Report Abuse Good idea, I was almost hit by a Prius and I am not hearing impared.
kruk Champion Author London Posts:1,889 Points:212,425 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:42:44 AM Ignore kruk Report Abuse they are thinking
TXGasPriceSpy Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:1,256 Points:222,445 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:42:39 AM Ignore TXGasPriceSpy Report Abuse I totally agree with thwadi. Being a blind jaywalker could be hazardous to your health. Let's hope these cars have strong windshields and good brakes.
Cuzilla Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:7,461 Points:1,303,325 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:42:33 AM Ignore Cuzilla Report Abuse Just mandate spoke wheels and then get a playing card and a clothes pin and attach so the spokes hit the card held on with the clothes pin. Kids used to do this with their bicycles years ago.
Somis1 Champion Author Ventura Posts:6,889 Points:1,391,410 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:42:23 AM Ignore Somis1 Report Abuse So we're going to have to hear some computer generated noise from them? Please.....
DrivingFool2 Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:2,013 Points:365,130 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:42:00 AM Ignore DrivingFool2 Report Abuse A cricket noise below thirty would be ok
DeepInOhio All-Star Author Ohio Posts:910 Points:374,280 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:41:52 AM Ignore DeepInOhio Report Abuse That sounds like a reasonable idea.
JadeKY Champion Author Louisville Posts:2,330 Points:465,780 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:41:52 AM Ignore JadeKY Report Abuse It's always something.
spunky4443 Champion Author Washington Posts:2,856 Points:808,500 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:40:10 AM Ignore spunky4443 Report Abuse Well that's the way it is.
Mikey8494 Champion Author Dayton Posts:3,805 Points:1,109,650 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:40:05 AM Ignore Mikey8494 Report Abuse Yeah we need screaming car.....
StuCoFromage37 All-Star Author Illinois Posts:689 Points:109,055 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:39:46 AM Ignore StuCoFromage37 Report Abuse Yea, that is true, but I bet they aren't quite as silent as hybrids.
tazdriver Champion Author Huntsville Posts:4,120 Points:929,430 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:37:43 AM Ignore tazdriver Report Abuse Some gas powered cars are also almost silent.
hauler43 Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,544 Points:1,575,990 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:37:43 AM Ignore hauler43 Report Abuse Why do hybrid need to be in stealth mode anyway?
Lonewolftx Champion Author Houston Posts:7,324 Points:1,447,015 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:37:36 AM Ignore Lonewolftx Report Abuse Yeah, it will scream BANZI!!!
VetteBlue Champion Author San Jose Posts:4,359 Points:902,245 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:37:28 AM Ignore VetteBlue Report Abuse Quiet is not the only problem with hybrids.
reb4 Champion Author Chicago Posts:5,094 Points:559,200 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:37:06 AM Ignore reb4 Report Abuse This is ludicrous....
marinasgrandpa All-Star Author Atlanta Posts:757 Points:236,195 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:36:09 AM Ignore marinasgrandpa Report Abuse wouldn't be a problem if they were built in the USA-you'd hear them falling apart while you drive
cathevan Champion Author Manitoba Posts:1,328 Points:358,450 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:35:11 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 9:34:25 AM Ignore goldilox88 Report Abuse never thought of it. makes sense.