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When an eight-year-old boy on a bicycle gets hit by a car while riding in the middle of the street, the blame often points directly at the youth. However, if the car in question just happens to be a quiet hybrid-electric... there just may be reason to accuse the vehicle.
Last weekend, a youthful Owen Erickson was riding his two-wheeler with a friend when he was struck by a Toyota Prius and tossed onto the hood of the popular hybrid. Thankfully, he was unhurt. His mother, however, was quick to place some of the blame on the "totally silent" Prius, claiming her son never heard it coming. As a scapegoat, the hybrid-electric vehicle is taking more than its fair share of heat. Two years ago, we blogged about the silent danger of hybrids. Earlier this year, Maryland launched a study, and passed legislation aimed at vehicle noise levels (more specifically, the "lack of" audible decibels), citing a legitimate concern for the blind. Just last month, a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to study whether or not a "minimum sound level" needs to be established for these highly-efficient silent runners.
We obviously haven't "heard" the end of this hybrid-electric argument as it begins to gain momentum around the country. Whether future Prius models are equipped with blaring sirens or not, we do know that Moms will still need to teach their children to not play in the middle of the street. Thanks for the tip, Tyler!
[Source: KARE 11]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
John Johnson @ May 8th 2008 2:16PM
How about instead of having a loud car, don't drive into kids. He was riding in the middle of the road. You saw him, mom. And you probably pressed the gas.
If my mom were the type of person to complain about her hybrid being too quiet, I'd probably want to get hit by a car too.
E$ @ May 8th 2008 2:25PM
The mom the article is referring to is the mom of the boy that got hit, not the Prius driver.
And just how do you hit a boy on a bike? Especially if he is in the middle of the street which you clearly should be looking at. I'm not saying the boy is not at fault because clearly riding in the middle of the street is not smart, but I mean come on, hitting something in the middle of the street is something that could be easily avoided.
Ben @ May 8th 2008 2:31PM
I've seen several occasions where kids on bikes just bolt out onto the street right in front of me from their driveways. Riding on the sidewalk too and not looking to see if there's a car coming.
It's almost as if they don't want to be aware, thus not wanting to live. It's up to the parents to educate the child.
Ben @ May 8th 2008 2:32PM
...and I drive a noisy car.
John Johnson @ May 8th 2008 2:37PM
Same way in my neighborhood. My house is at the bottom of a hill, at the end of a road with a stop sign. The downhill road makes like a T with the main road. Skateboarding kids love to ride down the hill, then across the main road (and sometimes right into our yard). One kid was coming down as a car was driving, smacked into the side of the car.
I've never smiled so big in all my life.
EskimoPie @ May 8th 2008 3:25PM
I feel so special... an article I tipped actually got posted. I'm a friggin celebrity! Please, no autographs.
But for the rest of you lesser people... in the interview with the kid he said he turned directly in front of the car because he didn't hear it... not the drivers fault at ALL IMHO.
John Johnson @ May 8th 2008 3:30PM
A bike in the road has to follow the same rules as a car on the road. Let me pull out in front of a car because I didn't hear it, lemme know how my insurance company will like that.
Before you go anywhere on the road, you look. The car and the bike were trying to occupy the same space at the same time. One of them didn't check to see if the space was occupied. That is all.
And way to go getting a story posted, I'd feel good too :)
smtbne @ May 8th 2008 8:45PM
Two vehicles were involved, the cycle is more quiet than the car,
where's the argument now? One driver required a test and had been
licensed to drive on a public road. The other was not. Who was in
charge of the childs road safety education? Of course the mother that
blames anyone but herself teaches her child to blame others too. Ah
the cycle of abuse continues.
RaNae @ May 8th 2008 11:09PM
C'mon- didn't this mom ever teach her son not to play in the street? And why couldn't the driver not see something this big in the road? This has nothing to do with the noise level of the car it has everything to do with not paying attention to our surroundings. It's like they say... guns hurt people and really it's the person that pulled the trigger, not the gun.
Logik @ May 9th 2008 1:00AM
I almost got hit by a, believe it or not, Tesla Roadster while I was road biking. Man, that thing was quiet as hell. I only caught the noise of the tires when it was about 20-30 feet from me. After it passed me, all I heard was gentle purr of the electric motor, and the tires for a couple of seconds, then nothing.
Personally, I think, people riding bikes on the street or anywhere where cars transit should always pay more attention. That's what I do every time I'm on my bike, because I've had more than a couple close encounters with peoples doors, hoods and bumpers.
SPG @ May 8th 2008 2:16PM
What? That kid got hit riding in the middle of the street?
Well the child's mother certainly knew that children are exempt from all traffic laws.
I suppose that hybrid driver will know in the future to always use an aftermarket jet sound speaker system.
John @ May 8th 2008 2:21PM
I wonder if they will let owners pick what kind of noise they want their car to make?
Could you imagine hearing stampeding buffaloes and then see a Prius driving up? LMAO!
yacoub @ May 8th 2008 2:46PM
*link to that horn blasters trainhorn website goes here*
Chris @ May 8th 2008 5:15PM
http://hornblasters.com/
jay @ May 8th 2008 10:01PM
I love the buffalo herd idea. I drive a total electric vehicle. I'm having a visual now with audio!!! LMAO I'll probably mount a speaker in the nose of it and play "electric Avenue" over and over again. Or President Bush repeating "weapons of mass destruction".... Too funny.
That's one of the joys of driving electric, I don't need my radio to cover the road noise, just roll down the window and enjoy the peace.
JPuzzleWhiz @ May 9th 2008 12:48AM
I know what kind of a noise I'D want if I ever bought one of thos "silent" cars: that noise would be "GET THE F*** OUTTA MY WAY, YOU MORON !!!!!"
k.w.a @ May 8th 2008 2:22PM
if you're in the middle of the street, and you hear a car coming, isn't it already too late? nowadays you can't hear cars coming a mile away, whether they're hybrid or not
Kite @ May 8th 2008 10:30PM
Cars can drive much faster than they used to. You'd more likely see it than hear it.
Todd @ May 8th 2008 2:24PM
Unreported in the news wire release was the fact that Mrs. Erickson recently sued McDonalds for millions after spilling hot coffee on herself, before that she sue ABC television and AT&T for making the Oprah Whinfery show so compelling she could not stop talking about it with a friend on her mobile phone driving, which resulted in Mrs. Erickson receiving a citation for driving 21 m.p.h. in the left lane of a busy freeway. Film at 11.
Dan @ May 8th 2008 2:25PM
I've always been a proponent of adding jet engine noises blasting over loud speakers to all hybrids