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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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bluenvoy Champion Author Nashville Posts:7,799 Points:1,088,765 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:10,709 Points:627,400 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:5,154 Points:1,634,370 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:1,216 Points:469,190 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:20,565 Points:3,152,810 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:7,830 Points:1,669,555 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 10:05:55 AM Ignore NJColt Report Abuse who cares?
biza4u Champion Author New Haven Posts:3,596 Points:654,480 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:3,687 Points:762,665 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:3,544 Points:600,525 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:238 Points:179,465 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 Medford Posts:4,500 Points:947,785 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:3,620 Points:710,825 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:3,492 Points:676,175 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:4,384 Points:1,138,295 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:14,826 Points:1,942,710 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 Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,465 Points:633,950 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:3,962 Points:696,525 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:4,724 Points:1,643,825 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:5,530 Points:929,670 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:52:15 AM Ignore Mooseman1 Report Abuse Very interesting.
RoadhogMA Champion Author Boston Posts:2,064 Points:471,650 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:13,887 Points:2,204,540 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:51:22 AM Ignore zornave Report Abuse Highly economical, Cuzilla. :-)
macbeth2012 Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:1,783 Points:336,985 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:3,993 Points:1,126,000 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:4,137 Points:807,225 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:5,721 Points:1,498,410 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:3,988 Points:742,190 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:4,311 Points:815,365 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 Champion Author Texas Posts:1,872 Points:550,935 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:2,102 Points:513,345 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:2,843 Points:332,715 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:2,661 Points:499,545 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:8,798 Points:1,546,540 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:8,318 Points:1,659,440 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:3,461 Points:643,790 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 Champion Author Ohio Posts:1,930 Points:626,530 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:3,766 Points:749,705 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:3,999 Points:1,048,195 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:40:10 AM Ignore spunky4443 Report Abuse Well that's the way it is.
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:4,892 Points:1,178,250 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:4,804 Points:1,852,555 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:7,574 Points:1,504,490 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:5,471 Points:1,118,560 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:7,489 Points:842,345 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:791 Points:354,350 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:2,132 Points:523,105 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:35:11 AM Ignore cathevan Report Abuse something to consider for sure
goldilox88 Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,233 Points:620,580 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:34:25 AM Ignore goldilox88 Report Abuse never thought of it. makes sense.
thwadi Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,138 Points:605,530 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:34:19 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 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