The US Senate has unanimously approved John Kerry's legislation, "(1) establishing performance requirements for an alert sound that allows blind and other pedestrians to reasonably detect a nearby electric or hybrid vehicle operating below the cross-over speed, if any; and
(2) requiring new electric or hybrid vehicles to provide an alert sound conforming to the requirements of the motor vehicle safety standard established under this subsection."
The "cross-over" speed is defined as the speed at which tire noise / wind resistance is no longer sufficient to alert people to the presense of a vehicle in motion.
But this requires more research, right? Yes. $2M worth.
Follow the jump for more on this bill, plus we talk with blind guy, and good friend, Brian Bushway who's not only blind, but teaches echolocation to blind children. (Teaser: "really, it would be better for everyone if all the cars were quieter.")
The bill will spend $2,000,000 to:
(1) determine the minimum level of sound emitted from a motor vehicle that is necessary to provide blind and other pedestrians with the information needed to reasonably detect a nearby electric or hybrid vehicle operating at or below the cross-over speed, if any;
(2) determine the performance requirements for an alert sound that is recognizable to a pedestrian as a motor vehicle in operation; and
(3) consider the overall community noise impact.
(c) Phase-in Required- The motor vehicle safety standard prescribed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall establish a phase-in period for compliance, as determined by the Secretary, and shall require full compliance with the required motor vehicle safety standard for motor vehicles manufactured on or after September 1st of the calendar year that begins 3 years after the date on which the final rule is issued.
(d) Required Consultation- When conducting the required study and rulemaking, the Secretary shall--
(1) consult with the Environmental Protection Agency to assure that the motor vehicle safety standard is consistent with existing noise requirements overseen by the Agency;
(2) consult consumer groups representing individuals who are blind;
(3) consult with automobile manufacturers and professional organizations representing them;
(4) consult technical standardization organizations responsible for measurement methods such as the Society of Automotive Engineers, the International Organization for Standardization, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations.
Onto our conversation with Brian Bushway:
"I have not any personal problems, and I'm out there traveling around moreso than anybody. If you're looking and paying attention to quiet cars, it's just another thing you're looking for."
"The concern is that blind people are going to be taken out by cars, but this is better for sighted people too because sighted people aren't paying attention to the world around them (as trained blind people are). I've heard stories of elderly sighted people being run over by their mate. I haven't heard any stories of blind people being run over by silent cars, but I bet more sighted people are being hit by cars than blind people simply because of the population difference."
"If all the cars were electric and quiet, then it would change the dynamic of the road in general. You would get used to the change and adapt to what you should be listening for. It's the difference from the norm that's the problem. But really, it would be better for everyone if all the cars were quieter."
cjasis says:
12:54 PM, 12/10/10
Another example of the Federal govt. wasting tax payer money on idiotic pet projects. I'm disgusted.
firstwagon says:
12:57 PM, 12/10/10
Blind people... listen for the rolling tires
Sighted people ... look where you are going.
Idiots ... listen for the horn
Can I get $2 million for that?
audisport says:
01:30 PM, 12/10/10
Nice windchimes!!
felonious says:
02:05 PM, 12/10/10
High-five, firstwagon.
tomm250 says:
02:33 PM, 12/10/10
Folks, don't think for a minute this legislation is really meant to protect the blind, because it does not in any way.
It's about the oil lobby putting pressure on the politicians who's campaigns they contributed huge sums of money to to do whatever they can to slow the adoption of electric cars.
As Brian Bushway above pointed out, we should be focusing on lowering the noise level of all cars instead of creating a shouting match between all the cars on the roads.
As many of you know, I have been driving a MINI-E for the past year and a half and have written guest posts here on a few occasions. There are 612 MINI-E's on the roads and they have been driven over three million miles so far and there hasn't been one incident involving a MINI-E and a pedestrian, I recently spoke with a BMW representative that is one of the people running the program.
Listen to a new luxury car cruising down the street. Unless it's under acceleration, all you hear is the tires rolling on the road, like an EV. Car makers have spent millions making their cars as quiet as possible and all of a sudden it's a problem now.
If they want to pass a law like this, then every car should have to be tested, not just electric cars and hybrids. Make every car drive 10 or 15 mph like it would in an urban environment where you would most likely encounter pedestrians and test the decibel level at 100 feet, then 50 feet then 25 feet and set a criteria for a minimum noise level. I bet many new luxury cars would fail as quickly as the EV's do. This is total BS.
f1mom says:
02:45 PM, 12/10/10
At the risk of being called lots of ugly names, I have to tell you that I've come close to being hit by hybrids in parking lots twice. Both times involved the car coming around an obstacle at very low speed - I didn't hear them and they didn't see me until the last second.
Brian's point about sighted people being the ones that aren't paying attention is right on. We're unconsciously listening for engine sounds and don't notice the softer sound of the tires. Now that I've been through it twice, I'm much more aware of it. I would imagine that everyone will get used to it as these cars become more common. The government need not get involved.
Is there really a "World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations?" Sounds made up.
csubowtie says:
03:11 PM, 12/10/10
This is rediculous. If a blind person is walking in the street, well, they weren't meant long for this world. If a car hits a pedestrian in a parking lot environment, that driver was obviously not doing an acceptable job of driving. Not to mention that most of the time people are whining about cars being too loud, now they're too quiet? Get a life.
lostboyz says:
01:13 PM, 12/11/10
"If a blind person is walking in the street, well, they weren't meant long for this world. "
ever heard of crosswalks?
sabastian says:
05:49 PM, 12/12/10
To be honest, in terms of research dollars, $2M is not really that much. That said, even ICE cars are very quiet these days, so I don't really see the need for noise makers specifically for electric cars.
xprojected says:
06:54 AM, 12/13/10
So are noisemakers on bicycles next?
tbone85 says:
07:52 AM, 12/13/10
We have several blind people who work with us, and they are all in support of the sound legislation. As was mentioned in the article, the problem is expectations and a change from the norm. Despite protests from those who think that blind people should be shut off from all mobility, I'd take any one of our blind employees over a knuckle-dragger who can't or won't consider any small measure to help valuable citizens who happen to have an extra challenge.
$2 million is an outrageous amount for a research study? We all pick and chose which programs we think are rife with waste based on our beliefs. In the grand scheme of things, whining about $2 million for a program that will likely save scores of lives really doesn't make much sense. We crap out many multiples of that supporting foreign interests and multi-national companies. Charity begins at home.
rick8365 says:
10:38 AM, 12/13/10
@f1mom -
Us too, I thought this stuff was a bunch of hooey until my wife and I walked in front of a Prius that was coming up behind us in the isle of a busy parking lot. We were walking and talking and not aware of what was coming up from behind - never heard a thing and we started to cross over the isle on a diagonal. I remember saying to my wife "this is what people are talking about"....that I had been dismissing. I know we were responsible for ourselves in the decision to cross, it's just that some of the usual techniques used in judging failed us.
halstory says:
04:46 PM, 02/ 6/11
I had a 1950 Buick that was very quiet. I once sneaked up behind a friend and touched his pants leg with the front bumper before he noticed the car. Nobody considered that quiet car a menace. Have we lost all perspective? I fear that our legislators pass silly measures just to have something to do, so they can say they serve a useful purpose!