Gov't wants electric cars to be noisy
(AP) -- A government safety agency wants electric and hybrid vehicles to make more noise when traveling at low speeds so pedestrians can hear them coming.
The cars and trucks, which are far quieter than conventional gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles, don't make enough noise at low speeds to warn walkers, bicyclists and the visually impaired, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday in a statement.
The proposed rule would require the cars to make additional noise at speeds under 18 miles per hour. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the cars make enough noise to be heard at higher speeds.
Automakers would be able to pick the sounds that the cars make from a range of choices. Similar vehicles would have to make the same sounds. And the government says pedestrians must be able to hear the sounds over background noises.
The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed rule. The agency will use public input to craft a final rule.
The government agency estimates that the new noise would prevent 2,800 pedestrian and cyclist injuries during the life of each model year of electric and hybrid vans, trucks and cars.
The rule is required by the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act that was passed by Congress in 2010.
©Copyright 2013 Associate
Read more: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20130107/TRANSPORTATION/130109942#ixzz2HKazqF7G
The cars and trucks, which are far quieter than conventional gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles, don't make enough noise at low speeds to warn walkers, bicyclists and the visually impaired, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday in a statement.
The proposed rule would require the cars to make additional noise at speeds under 18 miles per hour. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the cars make enough noise to be heard at higher speeds.
Automakers would be able to pick the sounds that the cars make from a range of choices. Similar vehicles would have to make the same sounds. And the government says pedestrians must be able to hear the sounds over background noises.
The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed rule. The agency will use public input to craft a final rule.
The government agency estimates that the new noise would prevent 2,800 pedestrian and cyclist injuries during the life of each model year of electric and hybrid vans, trucks and cars.
The rule is required by the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act that was passed by Congress in 2010.
©Copyright 2013 Associate
Read more: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20130107/TRANSPORTATION/130109942#ixzz2HKazqF7G
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Comments
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_flag_laws
Yeah got to make up for the roar of an ICE lest we disappoint decibel wise...
@Alex K, wow thanks for remembering that. You guys should check out the 'Red flag laws in the US' section on the page he linked. It's hilarious.
No noise pollution when not needed. I bet that would save lives without even requirement for silent cars (just include the system in any car).
As a cyclist, pedestrians normally do not hear me coming if I do not ring the bell until I'm a passing them.
Two things about noise on electric and hybrid cars
- Very strange that regulations have not been implemented yet. Electric cars have been around for quite some time, and the problem has been there all the time.
- From a technical side. This must probably be the easiest challenge for any engineer. Noise x speed according to a defined noise.
All modern cars are almost silent except for tire noise at low speed. What, exactly, the the EVs supposed to emulate about silent ICE cars at low speed? The entire idea is busybody nonsense.
Children currently run into the street without looking. It has happened for decades and will continue to happen no matter how loud the car is. A few years ago I was sitting at a stop light with a dozen other cars on a major street during rush hour. A 12ish year old kid decided to run across the street weaving between the cars on the 7 lane road (3 one way, 3 the other, 1 left turn). He cut in front of a large truck just before popping out into the left turn lane. The light's left arrow turned green so traffic was moving in that lane. I was a few cars behind the large truck at a stop so I could see the whole thing being setup. I saw the kid get hit and fly up into the air. ALL THE CARS WERE MAKING LOUD NOISES. I even honk moments before the hit to try and get anyone's attention. The driver never had a chance to see the kid since he was beside the truck the whole time. Luckily the car was only going about 15-20 mph when he hit the kid.
What's next? Will our brilliant government tell us that our EVs must produce a cloud of smoke because the Pedestrians can't recognize us from our foul smelling ICE kin?
Should we begin a petition on the We The People web and stop this idiotic idea before it goes to far?
First, that this would be targeted at electric vehicles and not all vehicles that make under some noise level threshold, means that it is either a political attack or simply ill-considered. Second, and more importantly, that it ignores periodic driver responsibility in favor of sweeping across the board noise makers for all cars is simply a ridiculous overreach. At the low speeds where these sounds would be mandated, it is the responsibility of the driver to not run people over. If that's not good enough, then maybe we should also mandate that all pedestrians are required to wear beanie hats when out in public so that they will be more noticeable by drivers. Same stupid thing. End of line.