Anti-Noise Activists Oppose Sounds for Electric Cars - Wheels Blog - NYTimes.com The ultraquiet Nissan Leaf battery car will produce a synthesized sound to warn blind people and other pedestrians, but the driver can turn it off. The on-off feature has caused some consternation among advocates for the blind. But the very existence of this new addition to the standard traffic cacophony has also raised the hackles of another community — anti-noise activists.
Re: http://whAnti-noise-activists-oppose-sounds-for-electric-cars for a non activist type, i'm always amazed at how many organiztions come out of the woodwork when an issue comes up. i wouldn't even know where to begin if i wanted to "found a non profit organization'. that being said, i'm going to donate to this anti noise league or whatever it is!:rockon:
Re: http://whAnti-noise-activists-oppose-sounds-for-electric-cars I don't know who these anti-noise people are but I support them in this. The last thing we need is noise makers on quiet cars. The world is to full of man made noises as is. Chris Daniesnen, National Federation of the Blind spokesman, is quoted as denouncing devices that pedestrians could use to detect cars "Blind people would rather rely on our own senses and judgment than depending on a piece of technology.” This comment seems rather odd, doesn't he realize that hybrid car noise makers would be a "piece of technology" also.
Re: http://whAnti-noise-activists-oppose-sounds-for-electric-cars My mother, who is 87 (with the physiology of a 60-year old) has low vision -- essentially blind. Can perceive light from dark. Docs say she has 4% of her sight left. Been that way since she was ~5 years old. No alzheimers, and a friendly, peaceful person, unless you hurt one of her six children. But, anyone who hits her with a quiet car had better kill her. Otherwise, I suspect she'll make scrap metal out of the car with her cane -- once for ignoring the white cane, and second for no (sound) warning for her to tell it was coming. I honestly don't think she could add a piece of technology to what she has to carry now ... her cane, a walker, a purse, etc. Guess maybe the technology could be mounted on the walker. As or the anti-noise people, I'd suggest that the noise made by an electric car would be less than other sources of noise, and wouldn't add much to the overall noise level. It just needs to be heard fairly close to a person, not so much farther away that it makes any significant addition to noise levels in an average city. Also, any technological solution will have to work in a circle around the person ... not just pointed right and left ... because cars may be turning etc. Also, having to listen to or otherwise follow the output of a piece of technology would just be one more distraction to overcome when trying to sort out the important sounds (car coming) from ambient noise.
Re: http://whAnti-noise-activists-oppose-sounds-for-electric-cars I propose we use this sound to warn pedestrians:
Re: http://whAnti-noise-activists-oppose-sounds-for-electric-cars In Japan, a bunch of the cross walks have a bird chirp sound. Seems now, Japan is considering the removal of the anoying sound, because too many folks simply depend on the sound. They hear it, fail to look, and charge into oncoming traffic, without so much as simply LOOKING/LISTENING WHERE THEY'RE GOING-whether its a driver or a pedestrian. And isn't that the real issue that will continue to be ignored, in order to finish up writing this whole mess into law? .
Re: http://whAnti-noise-activists-oppose-sounds-for-electric-cars I'm assuming many members of this group are also people who appreciate nature also, and wouldn't want to disturb nature with noise pollution. Imagine hiking through Yellowstone National Park and hearing vehicles driving by, constantly emitting tunes. How horrible would that be? . .
