Are electric cars too quiet? The NHTSA is thinking of requiring them to have noise makers

[hedgehog]

in order to ensure the safety of bikers and pedestrians:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/SampleSounds


http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=169172188&m=169172165

Personally, I'd like to hear the sound of hoofbeats, tied to vehicle speed!

http://www.audiosparx.com/sa/summary/play.cfm/crumb.2/crumc.0/sound_iid.205978

[Fumesucker]

1. This for me..

[Salviati]

20. That's the first thing I thought of!

If we can't have flying cars, at least we can have that authentic flying car sound...

[Squinch]

2. Maybe some Stones songs?

[taterguy]

3. Do you know how much that would cost in licensing fees?

(Descriptive word deleted in advance)

[Squinch]

6. I can dream!

[taterguy]

7. You could

But you shouldn't.

[Squinch]

11. Imagine traffic in a crowded city if rush hour cars played some classic concert.

Different ones every night. You'd look forward to being caught in traffic.

(Oh, come on. You'd love it too!)

[taterguy]

16. I'd hate it and I'm not just being contrary

News flash: Not everyone likes the same music.

[BlueJazz]

4. I can understand sounds for a bike (going the same way) but I've always...

...been taught to look both ways and even blind people depend on crossings...not sound...to cross streets.
But...if it makes everyone happy...so be it.

[hedgehog]

5. How about the sound of a steam locomotive?

http://www.soundjay.com/transportation/sounds/steam-locomotive-pass-by-01.mp3

[bluedigger]

8. I almost got nailed a couple times by Prius's in New Orleans.

It's easy to laugh at and dismiss, but in a crowded urban environment they can be a danger, even to someone normally aware.

[cbayer]

10. Lol, we were posting this at the same time. Hope it wasn't me that almost hit you!

[hedgehog]

12. I thought it was a classic Lounge type response thread!

[cbayer]

26. Pretty hilarious coincidence!

[cbayer]

9. When I lived in New Orleans, where a lot of people walk in the street

because the sidewalks are often hazardous, my Prius was a problem.

No one could hear me and I hated to honk at people. Another sound, maybe *excuse me*, would have been nice.

[bluedigger]

13. You SOB!

[cbayer]

15. I am so sorry!!

[bluedigger]

22. Apology accepted.

I think our combined testimony speaks volumes.

[backscatter712]

19. A bicycle bell?

That could be useful. Enough noise to get someone's attention, but not as loud and obnoxious as a horn-blast.

More of an "Excuse me..." than a "MOVE IT, ASSHOLE!"

Also, being in downtown Denver frequently, I note that the light-rail trains use a recording of a train bell (as well as a physical bell that sounds about the same, but isn't as loud as the loudspeakers playing the bell recording) to alert people that the train's moving. Of course, if people don't get out of the way fast enough, then there's the train horn...

[cbayer]

25. A bicycle bell would be nice. I can't tell you the number of times I scared the daylights

out of people while trying to get their attention.

[exboyfil]

14. I like the idea of hearing an idiot

accelerating into a blind curve which is what I have on my street when I am trying to cross it. I would be in favor of noisemakers. Not related but I was in a crosswalk crossing a street next to the University. No traffic, as I start across the road with dogs proceeding slowly because of the snow and ice, a car makes a right turn on the street. The idiot continues to accelerate all the way towards me (a fair distance). If I slipped he never would have been able to stop. What sort of idiot drives like that?

[Buns_of_Fire]

17. I listed to the samples. Borrrrrrrrrrrrrring...

Now, if they wanted to jazz it up a little, they could always go to this site -- http://www.grsites.com/archive/sounds/ -- and pick out some really neato stuff (I'm partial to the animal sounds and jet flybys, myself).

Wouldn't YOU get out of the way if you heard a giant chicken coming up behind you?

Tie it in with a "Dixie" horn, and you've got yourself a winner! (Dukes of Hazzard "General Lee" paint job optional.)

[Xithras]

34. I 100% guarantee that EV owners will be hacking the sound circuit

People modify everything else about their cars. 20 years from now, bicyclists will hear everything from these dull tones, to the latest Top 40 songs, to the soundtracks of porno movies blaring from cars as they whiz past. Especially once EV's start hitting the used car market and get into the hands of teenagers.

[ileus]

18. In my advanced age I find just hearing normal traffic hard while riding

my bike....

The wind noise makes it hard to hear accurately.

[backscatter712]

21. Speaking of hoofbeats...

The NPR clip suggested using the coconut-clapping sound from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

PERFECT!

[gkhouston]

31. Only if the horse snorts/snuffles as you come to a full stop. n/t

[Motown_Johnny]

23. My friend's Volt is essentially silent. It does have a pedestrian horn

in addition to the normal horn.

I like quiet but I can see why some sound might be needed. Maybe with all the new sensors on new cars the noise could sound automatically when nearing someone who might not be aware of the car's presence.

[IDemo]

24. Someone needs to market a noisemaker with multiple options

Indy car, Harley, locomotive, horse hooves, cards in bike spokes, etc.

[RB TexLa]

27. This is ridiculous. Traffic becoming less noisy and ultimately having no noise would

be a good thing.

[mythology]

37. THere is some evidence that suggests this is a problem

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1038249_do-hybrids-hit-pedestrians-more-often-nhtsa-report-may-say-so

"According to the report, which aggregates accident reports from certain states, hybrid like the Toyota Prius were involved in pedestrian crashes at a rate of 0.9 percent, which was half again as high as the 0.6 percent rate for vehicles with gasoline engines.

And hybrid vehicles were twice as likely to have hit cyclists, at a rate of 0.6 percent versus 0.3 percent."

Although the report is limited, there is at least some evidence that there is an increase in accidents with both pedestrians and bicyclists.

[2on2u]

28. George Jetson's car had a nice sound.... mebbe they could use that for some of them. n/t

[Posteritatis]

29. Perhaps a red flag and a man pacing them with a bullhorn, as well. (nt)

[alittlelark]

30. My Prius is... I have to be careful not to scare

pedestrians and bicyclists.

[ellenfl]

32. put cards in the spokes. eom

[LiberalFighter]

33. When it is a Republican let it be quiet.

Have it set up so it gives sufficient noise for Democrats.

[Kalidurga]

35. Quiet streets are a good thing...

I think pedestrian horns are a good idea though.

[backscatter712]

36. I think the whole point is to deal with hybrid & electric cars that are silent at low speeds.

They're quiet to the point where there's a risk of accidents when people don't hear the car coming.

I suspect the point is to make the care merely audible, so people hear your car coming and step out of the way. These devices shouldn't be obnoxiously loud - I don't think anyone who's driving a Prius wants it roaring like a Harley.

[Kalidurga]

38. Sudden loud noises can be a hazard all by themselves...

I agree pedestrians and bike riders need to know the car is there. But, I really don't know what sound is best.

[backscatter712]

40. I suppose that's what the NHTSA is figuring out.

The web site in the OP has a series of MP3s with proposed alert noises, or test noises, designed to produce certain decibel levels at specific frequencies, so as to be audible to as many people as possible, without being unduly obnoxious.

They've also got a huge white paper detailing the research they've done and setting out their proposed requirements in excruciating detail.

[liberal_at_heart]

39. my legally blind husband would love them to have noise makers

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

41. Only of we get to pick the sound our cars makes.

I'm thinking a long-loud continuous orgasm might make lawmakers change their mind.

"ooooooOOOOOOHHHHH-GGGGGOOOoooooodddd"