California is gone 100% crazy ! want's more noise pollution

[renovation]

Electric and hybrid vehicles may be better for the environment, but the California Legislature says they're bad for the blind.

It has passed a bill to ensure that the vehicles make enough noise to be heard by visually impaired people about to cross a street.

The measure would establish a committee to study the issue and recommend ways the vehicles could make more noise.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles says more than 300,000 of the vehicles are on state roads. Officials say they don't keep statistics on pedestrian accidents involving those vehicles.

The bill has been sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has not taken a position. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080819/koddities/oddity_quiet_cars
\ i personal think you people need to stop and smell a rose now and again and start kicking your law making politicians for coming up with rules that cost the american people tons for no reason other then spending time on thing that are ASS_9

[InfiniteNothing]

How do you propose blind people detect hybrids?

[mcs328]

How do you propose blind people detect hybrids?

From what I've read somewhere else they place a horn/speaker behind the grill that amplifies what little noise there is. The manufacturers claim this is cheap and easy to install. I forget where I read it from though.

[cruelpupet]

How about the blind people wait for lights to turn or cross at crosswalks? Get a guide dog? etc...

It sucks that they're blind, but its just adding another expense and weight to the car (the sound unit and the insulation so you dont hear it on the interior)

[InfiniteNothing]

Cross walks are still dangerous especially if there is no stop sign. I think weight is something the investigation should look into. :shrug:

I'm thinking a tiny 2 ounce RF/ultrasonic transmitter could do the trick. Just have blind people carry around a receiver or something. You could even do Doppler to detect how fast the hybrid was coming. *runs to patent office*

[DarkFury]

maybe they'd make a "hybrid detector" that a blind person would wear on their wrist that would buzz/tingle when a hybrid is near. :D

[johnnymk]

Hybrid vehicles using beans (the ORIGINAL gas) should do the trick.

[Chgoman]

Hmm a way to make a car make a sound. Honk...

I do find that when I drive my Prius when I'm at a state beach in the area where people camp and walk down the main road all the time, I'm coasting or driving with the engine off and people don't know I'm there to get out of the way.