Electric Vehicles, Noise, and Pedestrian Safety - What's Your Take?
John Beltz Snyder
With more and more automakers developing electric vehicles, some folks worry about pedestrian safety. They argue that more people are likely to be hit by sneakily quiet EVs. Some even suggest putting speakers in electric cars to produce a noise that will give pedestrians a heads-up to oncoming traffic.
On the other hand, those concerned about the already pervasive noise pollution look forward to having quieter cars on the road.
What do you think? Should electric vehicles be required to produce some sort of noise in the name of public safety? If so, what sound should be employed? Should electric vehicles replicate the sound of current cars, or should we get more creative?
Will the Chevrolet Volt sound like Cyndi Lauper?
The Truth About Cars offers some suggestions here.
Make yourself heard in the comments section below.
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Hugo Chavez
If this was true people would be run over by bicycles all the time. I believe people mainly rely on their eyes when crossing a street.
breising@mac.com
Hmmmmm, bicycles... How about a bell that you can ring just like a bicycle...
It would be cute and get the job done...
BIll R.
San Francisco, CA USA
bimotarich
People do get hit by bicycles, especially when there are a lot of both around... cars will have the same problem when they become almost silent... but of course this is probably a moot point because so many people are already tuned out via their headphones that car sound is no longer so much of an issue... perhaps a bit more road noise from the tires would be helpful... that would not be so hard to engineer in if noise was found to be desired... and it would be the kind of noise that would probably get us tuned into the right kind of threat... and would be quiet when the vehicle was not moving... just a thought...
Rich
Fukuoka, Japan
Kingsman42sc
I believe one car company has proposed adding sound of internal combustion engine to an electric car as an option. This would be switched off when out on the highway. Or add in the sound of the motor and horn from a big semi rig. But, honestly, you'd really want silence most of the time to hear the stereo system or be able to talk to passengers.
donYan
Hola everybody:
There is the survival of the fittest; the one that "stops, looks and listens"...instead of using his STUPID Cell Phone! (I know: cell phones are not stupid, users are) when crossing any street...NO to noise, NO to light pollution: some of us observe the Universe at night or go to sleep (unless..."honey, I am home!").