Congress Sides With Pedestrian And Cyclist Safety And Decrees That EV Vehicles Must Have Noise Makers

he U.S. Department of Transportation on Monday finalized rules that will require “quiet cars” like electric vehicles and hybrids to emit alert sounds to warn pedestrians of their approach, extending to 2020 the deadline for full compliance.

The long-delayed rules, which were first demanded by Congress in 2010, will require automakers like Tesla Inc, Nissan Motor Co and General Motors Co to add sounds to vehicles when they are moving at speeds of up to 18.6 miles per hour (30 km per hour) to help prevent injuries among pedestrians, cyclists and the blind.
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TomM - 2/27/2018 2:35:09 PM

+1 Boost

Gee - how about a set of Sleigh Bells - would be a nice touch!

TheSteve - 2/27/2018 4:09:07 PM

+2 Boost

Why not employ "ActivSound", like BMW in the i8, but rather than just piping it into the car, play it externally, too? Give it a nice, growly V8 sound ;-)

carloslassiter - 2/27/2018 4:57:05 PM

-1 Boost

Congress should also make these cars belch out some thick black smoke, just to satisfy the sensitive anti-environmentalist community.

SanJoseDriver - 2/28/2018 4:03:01 AM

0 Boost

This is so unnecessary, EVs still make noise when moving slowly. Until they hover above the road, you will still hear the tires grinding the road. When was the last time you heard about someone being killed because a car was too quiet? (Keep in mind 1.5 million Priuses have been sold)

Vette71 - 2/28/2018 9:09:46 AM

+2 Boost

Disagree. Rented a hybrid recently that operated in battery mode for first miles. On several occasions it was clear that people couldn't hear it coming, especially when they were preoccupied doing things like getting their luggage out of their car at a hotel, etc. Walked right into the travel lane. Blaring your horn in situations like that is rather rude. A pedestrian detection system as part of automatic braking, with a soft noise would help.

Dexter1 - 2/28/2018 6:32:32 AM

-2 Boost

They already have a noise maker—it's called a fu*king horn.

MDarringer - 2/28/2018 8:24:02 AM

-4 Boost

If dumbass pedestrians would get off their damn phones and pay attention to their surroundings, that would solve that problem. Most cyclists are elitist morons wearing their spandex panties with extra crotch padding to make up for what God neglected to give them. I say run over the bastards and teach them a lesson.

PUGPROUD - 2/28/2018 8:41:45 AM

0 Boost

The sounds are going to get old fast...like car and back up alarms.

mre30 - 2/28/2018 11:15:20 AM

-2 Boost

This was the "problem which was not a problem" 15 years ago when Toyota rolled out its first Prius and consumer watchdogs everywhere said that blind people would start getting mowed down by silent Prius' by the 1,000's.

I'm not sure that any blind people have ever gotten struck by a hybrid due to its silence.

This is click bait.