Comments on: Hybrids safer for occupants, not for pedestrians

By: Van

Van — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:07:45 +0000

Sometimes I do not those that vote for liberals get it. They are the smartest people in the room, and their insight allows them not only to decide how they should live their lives, but also how "the masses" should live too.

The sliced and diced the data to make their case for man-made global warming.

They blocked the gas pipeline.

They blocked 100,000 jobs in NC.

Notice how they take our freedom, one regulation or statute at a time in the name of food safety or car safety, or for the children, etc and etc. But all the time, the bundlers get kickbacks from Green energy handouts. History tells us what central economic control gives us, misery Soviet Union style. Yet the Amercia people keep voting for Democrats. Amazing.

By: Mr. Fusion

Mr. Fusion — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:37:52 +0000

Give me a break with the noise makers! Have we become that stupid!? I don't think so. But the lawyers have definitely become smarter!

What's next? Will it will be mandatory to have all cars painted in fluorescent colors because they can't be seen clearly enough?

By: simon@syd

simon@syd — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 04:02:07 +0000

I think it is totally surprising that extra mass should give extra safety. Extra mass means that for a given speed you can’t slow down or change direction as rapidly – so you are more likely to hit rather than avoid. Extra mass means that if you hit an object, extra energy has to be dissipated away from the passengers. Its surely a bit of a problem for other people if extra mass means you are more safe – they are surely less safe as a direct result. Horrible. Id rather drive a light car and not impact on other people so much. And Id really like it if everyone else did the same for me.

By: MrEnergyCzar

MrEnergyCzar — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:22:56 +0000

Well written article Jeff. They should make the universal low speed sound be the Blade Runner sound.... Pedestrians also pay attention less than they used to as they are distracted more and rely more on sound than sight....

MrEnergyCzar

By: ACAgal

ACAgal — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:47:17 +0000

As far as I know, no higher percentages of pedestrians have been injured by quiet cars, this is a thought to be a threat but it is not an actual danger. I once was at the most conjested intersection in Southern California. A truck apparently lost it's brakes and was gliding down the hill to that intersection. The driver used his horn. Everyone else was using their horns and the intersection was filled with so much noise that few understood death was approaching.
I had a noisy stationwagon (big engine). Not once did the kids playing ball in the street, scurry to the curb to avoid being by my car, or jaywalker stop walking across moving traffic.

Both drivers and pedestrians have to be responsible for their action. Engine noise or lack of engine noise makes very little difference, whereas attentive people and the opportunity to respond to dangerous conditions more likely. As a driver, I would like the choice of what my car could sould like, and most days my choice would be Wagner's "The Flight of the Valkyries".

By: Old Grumpy

Old Grumpy — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:07:07 +0000

Yegor: You cannot legislate stupidity! If people run between parked cars they deserve to be hit! It would thin out the (Stupid gene pool). If noise is the trouble then lets make mufflers illegal! All cars should run with straight pipes like a fuel burning dragster! Nothing is perfect yes hybrids are quiet but that doesn’t mean that we have to make them loud we continue to pass laws which are stupid and unnecessary. Lets just drive our hybrids and encourage car manufactures to keep makeing more of them cheaper so evryone can get 50 M.P.G. This just another regulation which will give the manufactuers an excuse to raise the price and rip off the consumer!!

By: Yegor

Yegor — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:43:49 +0000

Then something has to be done with quiet Lexus and Infinity.
For example a person can start crossing a small residential street between parked along the street cars without looking. A child can run across the street in the same situation. This is very dangerous. I always slow down to 20-25 MPH on this kind of streets but I can see that many people do not.
Yes, sound warning would be very helpful.
It can be very nice sound and not annoying - it does not have to travel too far.

By: Old Man Crowder

Old Man Crowder — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:49:50 +0000

The weight issue is a no-brainer and I'm a little surprised they had to do a study on it.

But I hate this debate about artificial noisemakers. Have you ever heard the engine of a Lexus or Infiniti as it trolls through a parking lot? Me neither! Those things are virtually silent to begin with, and then you add in the surrounding ambient noise luxury vehicles are just as quiet as hybrids at low speeds.

Heaven forbid you open the window and call out a polite "Excuse me!"

By: Yegor

Yegor — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:23:53 +0000

Yes, it makes sense.

By: Capt. Concernicus

Capt. Concernicus — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:19:31 +0000

But I love sneaking up on pedestrians in a parking lot in my Prius. Then I honk the horn to scare them. It’s all good. Haha…