There have been a few scattered local news reports about unsuspecting people being hit by silent hybrid cars. So far, this type of news has been ignored amongst the hybrid car manufacturers. However, Japan is considering new laws that would require hybrids to make a little noise, for safety.
Specifically this law is to help keep vision impaired (see blind people) safe. The idea is that if they could hear them, they wouldn't walk out in front of them. I guess. The idea sounds like it would work, but I figure these people would still be likely to walk out in front of any vehicle, no matter how noisy.
"Blind people depend on sounds when they walk, but there are no engine sounds from hybrid vehicles when running at low speed" and on the electric motor, he said.
The ministry has launched a panel of scholars, vision-impaired groups, consumers, police and the automobile industry to discuss the matter.
"They decided to consider introducing a sound-making function" in petrol-electric hybrids when the 13-member panel held its first meeting Thursday, the official said.
No doubt Toyota will be the first to jump on board, since the
Prius model is the #1 selling hybrid. Although with 200,000 units already ordered in Japan, it's highly unlikely this lower priced next generation model will feature any kind of additional noise makers. Maybe a recall?
