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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Australian_flag.jpg Legit concern? Overreaction? Poll included (http://www.cnet.com.au/poll-should-hybrid-and-electric-vehicles-be-made-louder-339297338.htm)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Blind_and_Prius_.jpgDerek Fung - CNET (http://www.cnet.com.au) - July 10, 2009

Check out the poll --Ed.

You can find the original story here (http://www.cnet.com.au/japan-may-mandate-louder-hybrid-cars-339297245.htm), but if what the sociologists tell us is true and our attention spans have degraded to the same level of a gnat high on Red Bull, we'll summarise it for you.

Japan's transport ministry have received a number of opinions from the blind and vision-impaired about potential street crossing safety issues when hybrids are running silently on electric power alone. One of the potential outcomes from this is that Japan mandates artificial engine noise generation for hybrids and electric vehicles. Potentially, some like what the Brabus Smart Electric Drive (http://www.cnet.com.au/electric-brabus-smart-is-very-mint-green-339296930.htm) is capable of (http://www.cnet.com.au/hear-the-brabus-smart-impersonate-the-enterprise-339297050.htm).... http://www.cnet.com.au/poll-should-hybrid-and-electric-vehicles-be-made-louder-339297338.htm

Over One Thousand Blind Americans to March in Detroit (http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/06-30-2009/0005052805&EDATE=)

The reason McCurdy is important is during the April hearings on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration programs, he was the only speaker to advocate for noise makers on hybrid electric cars. Having the National Federation of the Blind convention in Detroit is tailor made to release a huge amount of misleading press releases. These in turn will 'echo' through the media. So it makes sense to review the facts and data and have your sources ready:

* On average, 4,700 pedestrians die each year, 5 are blind, and since 2001-2006, no blind has died in a Prius accident, yet.
* The Prius has the same pedestrian accident rate as ordinary cars.
* No blind has been killed by a Prius out of the 4,700 pedestrians killed every year.
* There have been only 11 Prius-only, fatal pedestrian accidents in the seven year, 2001-2007 during which 515,000 Prius were sold

Later this week, I'll post a web page with the source material and references ... a fact sheet ... to use when addressing local editors. In the short term, use the material already available at:

www.regulations.gov - search: NHTSA-2008-0108-0020

Recent information: search: NHTSA-2008-0108-0027.1

This is the NHTSA "plan" submitted June 19, 2009 but according to the web sites, comments were due August 1, 2008. Kinda hard to comment on a plan submitted in the future but this plan has more problems. More about this later.

Understand that I'm not sharing the most recent information because we can expect the advocates to do 'opposition research.' There is no advantage to telegraphing the facts and data that refute their claims until the last minute but we have enough already. Use what we've got.

This NFB march looks to kick off their legislative effort to pass H.R. 734 and S. 841 as Congress resumes July 6 for the Senate and July 7 for the House. This weekend is your best opportunity to meet your Congress critters during the July holiday break. Unlike any other, this is the time to meet or attend any 'town hall' or other events during the July recess.

I voted "No", because there wasn't a "Hell NO!".

:)

In my experience, every Prius I have encountered makes a very distinctive high pitched tone when it starts to move. (Very similar to that of an old CRT TV, in fact.) Once up to speed, the tires make plenty of noise just like all other cars.

I have been watching peoples reactions when I am in the equivalent of electric mode. The only reaction I get is when I restart so my assumption is that there is enough noise from the tires that it would be louder than the engine would be if it were running. Even at low speeds such as I see when going through town (under 25 MPH). Now, I don't see any blind people on my commute (probably since it is mostly highway), but I would assume that they hear better than the average person since they rely on it for safety. I don't see that it would make a difference if a person is blind or not if they just hear the tires.

(Sorry if my post is scatter-brained have my kids pestering me at the same time.)

wheels are plenty loud enough..I don't rev my car high enough for people to hear it over the wheel noise anyway.

If this goes through then I'd need to see the same noisemaker on every quiet luxury car that operates at a simlar dB level as well... It seems daft to create law based on car type rather than actual noise output at idle.