Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act introduced to protect the blind from quiet cars
2010 Toyota Prius – Click above for a high-res image gallery
According to the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, just introduced by U.S. Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA), "New vehicles that employ hybrid or electric engine technology can be silent, rendering them extremely dangerous in situations where vehicles and pedestrians come into proximity with each other."
For this reason, the aforementioned bipartisan bill would require that the government "conduct a study on how to protect the blind and others from being injured or killed by vehicles using hybrid, electric, and other silent engine technologies." Companies like Lotus Engineering and Harmon International are already one step ahead of this legislation with products intended to add some extra sound to silent vehicles.
Interestingly, it was just over a year ago that the last study into the dangers of hybrid and electric vehicles was started as directed by the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2008, leaving us to wonder what progress, if any, has been made on the issue over the last year.
Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius - First Drive
PRESS RELEASE
U.S. Senators John Kerry and Arlen Specter Introduce Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act
National Federation of the Blind Applauds Measure to Protect Lives and Preserve Independence of Blind Americans
WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) today introduced a bill, S. 841, intended to protect the blind and other pedestrians from injury or death as a result of silent vehicle technology. The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 requires the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study on how to protect the blind and others from being injured or killed by vehicles using hybrid, electric, and other silent engine technologies.
Because blind pedestrians cannot locate and evaluate traffic using their vision, they must listen to traffic to discern its speed, direction, and other attributes in order to travel safely and independently. Other people, including pedestrians who are not blind, bicyclists, runners, and small children, also benefit from hearing the sound of vehicle engines. New vehicles that employ hybrid or electric engine technology can be silent, rendering them extremely dangerous in situations where vehicles and pedestrians come into proximity with each other.
"The National Federation of the Blind appreciates the wise and decisive action taken today by Senators Kerry and Specter to preserve the right to safe and independent travel for the blind," said Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind. "The blind, like all pedestrians, must be able to travel to work, to school, to church, and to other places in our communities without being injured or killed. This bill will benefit all pedestrians for generations to come as new vehicle technologies become more prevalent. The blind of America will do everything in our power to ensure its swift passage."
"I'm a major proponent of hybrid vehicles -- I own one, I drive one, and I've seen firsthand their environmental and economic benefits," said Senator Kerry. "The market is demanding new technologies in the auto industry, and Americans are demanding we finally kick our foreign oil addiction. As we continue to promote our energy independence, however, we must do more to ensure the safety of those who use senses other than sight to navigate the roads. I look forward to working with Secretary LaHood to ensure that hybrid vehicles are safe for everyone."
"Blind people have the same right to safe travel as all other pedestrians," said Senator Specter. "I look forward to working with my colleagues on this important legislation to ensure that the blind and other pedestrians can continue to travel safely and independently."
About the National Federation of the Blind
With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
bdan 10:34AM (4/23/2009)
i think they should also launch a study on
"why is that blind person in the road?" and
"why are you trying to kill that blind person?" but dont forget
"where is my ford focus RS in the states?"
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Anahuac 11:15AM (4/23/2009)
I've been wrong all my life, because I used to think that noise was a kind of pollution, but now noise is something that you have to do. I will sell a device that produce noise because if things continue this way pedestrians would be required to wear one.
Josh 3:10PM (4/23/2009)
Not having engine noise while stopped or driving at slow speeds is a plus in my book.
Besides - what about tire and wind noise? Do those just disappear with hybrids too? Frictionless wheels, eh? Why don't we fund a study in that, maybe then we will know for sure that frictionless wheels don't move.
I never understood legislators - so easy to spend everyone else's money.
MKIV 7:17PM (4/23/2009)
Put a cow bell around the neck of the blind so the hybrid owners can keep an eye out on them.
Ha! problem solved.
Avinash machado 10:37AM (4/23/2009)
Maybe they could add a soundtrack of a V8 engine to the Prius.
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dukeisduke 10:46AM (4/23/2009)
Nah, a Ferrari Enzo.
Avinash machado 10:52AM (4/23/2009)
That is also a good choice.
badhack 3:37PM (4/23/2009)
Nay, Fran Drescher.
k4ffy 10:40AM (4/23/2009)
all hybrids should be made to cluck like a chicken.
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drmoomoo 10:41AM (4/23/2009)
I can imagine it now . . .
Cars outfitted with bullhorns blaring "WARNING! VEHICLE APPROACHING" every 5 seconds they're moving. All doppler effect on the highway.
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Rogue_G 11:15AM (4/23/2009)
Nah, too polite. What it should say instead is, "I'M SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT, LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME!"
Ken 11:40AM (4/23/2009)
You're both wrong, all they need to do is give blind people an audible smug emission detector.
Dave 10:43AM (4/23/2009)
Are they serious? There was already a study so now we have to pay for another study? One wasnt good enough? Doesnt common sense, the 1st study, and the fact that Advocacy groups for the blind are SAYING its a problem show that its a problem? We need another study to prove this? And of course I bet John "D-Student" Kerry will fund the study with his sugar mama wife's money and not out tax dollars right?
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dukeisduke 10:44AM (4/23/2009)
They should announce, "What are you, blind? Get the hell out of the way!"
/channeling the late, great sam kinison
Seriously, isn't this why cars have *horns*?
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havoc 12:43PM (4/23/2009)
thank gawd you put the '/' in there, otherwise i was confused.
mike 10:46AM (4/23/2009)
Not to be insensitive to the plights of visually impaired people but this is absurd.
This is an expensive and ridiculously premature exercise.
The cars are not completely silent.
Their MUCH quieter operation is also a big bonus in my book.
Noise pollution sucks.
- mike
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MKIV 7:22PM (4/23/2009)
I can see it now... People getting ticketed for not being within the confines of a noise level. Getting ticketed for having a too quiet of a car right along with the boy racer with the fart can. Brilliant.
mapoftazifosho 10:50AM (4/23/2009)
Ok, it is up to the driver to watch out for people in the road. Furthermore, hybrid vehicles are still equipped with a horn, a steering wheel, and brakes. The money for this should be diverted to finding a cure for blindness...what a joke...REVOLUTION NOW! lol
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jmilane1 9:23AM (6/04/2009)
How about baseball cards in the spokes?
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Andrew 10:54AM (4/23/2009)
So who's going to be the first to make their Prius sound like an Enzo?
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