Been hearing this for awhile about the hazards to bicyclists and pedestrians because hybrids are nearly silent. Sunday morning TV news had a brief story that a noise system for low speed, turning and backing up may become a requirement. Can't they just issue the owners a deck of playing cards and a clothespin like we used on our bicycles as a kid?

Maybe I can order the race option exhaust system for my Focus and claim I'm protecting bicyclists and pedestrians if I get a noise ticket.

I'd say the biggest danger is when they're backing out of a spot in a busy parking lot, hybrid owners tend to be more aware of their "green" status than their surroundings. I almost got creamed by a Lexus RX hybrid because she didn't look before backing up and I didn't hear an engine.

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Everyone needs to be more careful then.

this makes sense only for people that are walking or on a bicycle. if you are walking you are probably going way to slow not to stop before hitting the idiot that didn't look. if your on a bike you should always be paying attention because people are idiots and they will not see you. ya they are quiet but seriously how often are we listening for a car?

I have never once listened for a car to make sure the road was safe.

Dont some hybred's already make a noise for the drivers benefit? As in, it makes some sort of fake engine noise so it gives the driver a sense of familiarity.

I rode in a Prius w/a friend of mine... and I'm telling you, that crap was SCARRY!! It was sooooooooo quiet, I kept thinking to myself "this ain't right..." It was like riding in an elevator w/out music (I mean a really nice one, not an old one that you hear all the gear/chain noise)

Being in a small Focus is bad enough, but at least I can tap the 'loud pedal' to let folks know my intentions/whereabouts...horns don't get much attention anymore.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/03/AR2007020301735.html (http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/redirector.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fwp-dyn%2Fcontent%2Farticle%2F2007%2F02%2F03%2FAR2007020301735.html)

Bicycle Hits, Kills Man Crossing NW Streethttp://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/pinellas/pedestrian-fatally-hit-by-bike-rider-070510 (http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/redirector.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myfoxtampabay.com%2Fdpp%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fpinellas%2Fpedestrian-fatally-hit-by-bike-rider-070510)

Pedestrian fatally hit by bike riders on Memorial Causeway BridgeThe claims that quiet cars are a hazard is preposterous.
Every single state in the union has noise laws, vehicle or otherwise. So to claim that cars need to be louder goes against the intent of the noise laws, which is to combat noise pollution.
But lets say you're in a bar and trying to talk to your buddy. It's loud and you have to raise your voice for him/her to hear you. Exact same thing applies to vehicle noise. To hear a specific vehicle over the combined noise of others each has to be louder than the ambient noise.
Well if everyone is louder than ambient then ambient is also louder, on and on and on. To the point you're deaf because everything is so loud.

If you're blind and out walking about alone, I'd say you're just as likely to get hit by a pedestrian or bicyclist as a uber quiet car. But being there are more bikes and pedestrians it's likely one of them would hit you first.


The whole argument is just stupid. It was 'thought' (though quite irrational) by someone who just doesn't like hybrids and thinks this will be some way to slow or halt they sales. But I'd like to think the rational human can see this and pays no attention to it.