Silence Is Not Always Golden | Green Energy News

June 30, 2008 – Vol.13 No.15

SILENCE IS NOT ALWAYS GOLDEN.

Query: How do you make something that’s inherently quiet, noisy?

According to the National Federation of the Blind, “... blind pedestrians cannot locate and evaluate traffic using their vision, they must listen to traffic to discern its speed, direction, and other attributes in order to travel safely and independently. Other people, including pedestrians who are not blind, cyclists, runners, and small children, also benefit from hearing the sound of vehicle engines. New vehicles, especially those that employ hybrid or electric engine technology, can be silent, rendering them extremely dangerous in situations where vehicles and pedestrians come into proximity with each other.”

True enough. And there are also pets and wildlife to consider. Don’t animals need noise as a warning to get off the roadway? Quiet vehicles - electrics and plug-in hybrids - might cause greater slaughter on the roadways than takes place already. People’s beloved pets and unwitting animals in general probably would be safer with a little vehicle noise.

Currently, the automotive industry appears to be trending towards electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Both presidential candidates are on-board for some kind of major change under the hoods of our cars and trucks. Quiet vehicles are closer to the horizon than ever before.

The National Federation for the Blind advocates the establishment of a minimum sound standard for all new automobiles sold and licensed in the United States. The Federal government would be responsible for regulating this. US Congressman Ed Towns of New York is sponsoring the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2008 (H.R. 5734) which will address the issue.

Certainly there must and will be studies to determine how much noise should be added to these vehicles and what tone is most effective to help the blind as well as warn animals.

How can noise be added to these quiet vehicles? Install noisy tires? A sound system? A muted continuous horn? There will have to be laws against tampering too.

The near silence of electric vehicles is one of their assets. Cutting traffic noise is an added bonus to zero emissions and energy independence. But for society as a whole, and the animal world we share the planet with, a little noise may be a good thing.

Noise may add to the marketing appeal of these vehicles too. People want to feel the power of their vehicles. They want to feel that something is “there” when they step on the accelerator. They want more than being pushed back in the seat from the G-forces of acceleration. They want a little engine growl. GM’s now mostly crushed EV-1 electric car had a nice turbine-like whine as it accelerated. Maybe that’s the kind of sound drivers would like and pedestrians and others learn to accept.

National Federation of the Blind will host the first Quiet Car Panel at its upcoming national convention in Dallas, Texas. In addition to Congressman Towns, the panel will include representatives from the Committee on Automobile and Pedestrian Safety of the National Federation of the Blind; the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers; and the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Links:

National Federation of the Blind
http://www.nfb.org