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Nissan Gives Electric Cars Blade Runner Audio Effect
mateuscb writes "A campaign backed by automakers and some lawmakers to make electric or hybrid cars noisier in a bid to increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists has taken a strange, Blade Runner-type twist. Nissan sound engineers have announced that the Leaf electric car set for release next year will emit a 'beautiful and futuristic' noise similar to the sound of flying cars — or 'spinners' — that buzz around 2019 Los Angeles in Ridley Scott's dystopian thriller based on a Philip K. Dick science fiction novel."
From the article ~ "Some reports suggest that in the future, car owners will download a sound for their car the way many consumers buy ring tones for their cellphones."
Oh crap, now we have to listen to cars playing crappy tunes on bad speakers all the time. Can't their be a law against this proposed. I think a few dead pedestrians is worth the loss of the noise pollution.
But at TFS says, it's a 'safety feature', I'd imagine you could 'turn it off' about as easily as the airbags or that thing that beeps when you're in reverse, and that's not without messing with wiring.
Blind people don't have the option of looking.
I don't like cars sneaking up on me when I'm on foot. Do you?
Then stop walking in the middle of the road.
At least 75% of the pedestrians don't look *either* way.
The mouth breathers are of the belief that 8 oz of striping paint will stop 3 tons of Detroit steel.
TFA links to the National Federation for the Blind's article about this topic. Here's the most relevant snippet: >> While there are no national data on pedestrian injuries or deaths related to low-noise cars... Ok - guys: get some data! This is just plain ridiculous to pass a law based on a mere assumption that quiet cars might cause a problem. If someone can prove that this is a plague upon the nation - great; pass the law. But otherwise this is a fake problem. I've owned a civic hybrid and a prius. Neither were really noticeably quieter (even when the prius was operating electric only) than your typical accord / camry. Does anyone have any data at all anywhere showing the increased incident rate for quiet cars? I'd love to see it, but I'm pretty sure it's not there.
I created this account just so I could comment on this story
Probably it'll be illegal to turn it off. The same way it's illegal to drive at night with the lights out.
entropy happens
It's the drivers' responsibility to maintain control of their vehicles and be cognizant of sudden dangers in the street. Any attempts delegate this responsibility onto pedestrians, wildlife, and falling trees are completely retarded.
I agree that this is the driver's responsibility, but considering we're talking about stopping people from getting smooshed by cars, is alerting pedestrians as a sort of back up system really that objectionable?
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Try being blind and then guessing when it's safe to cross the road...
Yes because we know a driver never speeds past a red light, ever.
Wheels on asphalt are astonishingly quiet. Have a friend try it out on you if you don't believe me - run a car up a small incline, then put it in neutral and turn off the engine. Close your eyes, tell him to go, and open your eyes when you can hear it. Do this a block away from a busy street, for added realism. See how close he is.
And if they're blind?
As someone who used to commute via bike, I say it's pretty freaky having a hybrid come whooshing by, even if it's in a different lane. Almost as bad as a city bus, which has it's engine in the back so you don't hear it until the bus is practically on top of you. A little audible warning would be nice. It doesn't need to sound like a Harley to be effective.
A post a day keeps productivity at bay.
"hit the anchors and come to a dead stop in twenty feet just because some asshole saunterd out into the road because "the law" says he's allowed is absolutely ridiculous."
Uhhh if he's not jaywalking and reached the corner first and you are at a distance where it is safe for you to stop then yeah.... You really should stop...
If you are driving at a speed through an intersection where you are unable to stop if something comes out then you are a danger and will hopefully have your license taken before you kill anyone.
People crossing at the crosswalk aren't idiots. The right of way is NOT determined by who dies or everyone would be driving tanks and walking anywhere would be completely impossible. Main st in my town is a 60zone with lots of cars, the way you are talking you sound like you'd be happy splitting the city into essentially little islands.