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I really don’t like that plan. It may not be bad, depending on what the noise is, but unless it’s done well it will be a new, annoying sound that I have to hear

I really don’t like that plan. It may not be bad, depending on what the noise is, but unless it’s done well it will be a new, annoying sound that I have to hear all the time. I don’t see the safety benefits either. Cars going less than 20 mph are not particularly dangerous. On top that that, in most situations where you’re going less than 20 it’s the drivers responsibility to watch for pedestrians, not the other way around. (Parking lots, big streets in cities where there’s crosswalks every couple hundred feet, shared spaces where pedestrians and cars are in the same lane). It’s probably more likely to let people drive faster through parking lots (as people hear the car behind them and move over) than create any safety improvements.

RankingMember 8y ago
I'm not sure I understand your argument with regard to responsibility. When I'm laying on the pavement, I don't think I'll care that much whose responsibility it was to avoid the collision. To your last point, why would a car emitting noise result in people speeding through parking lots? Most cars on the road are already emitting noise. This is just bringing hybrid and electric cars into parity with existing vehicles. If you happen to witness a Fisker Karma cruising around at low speed, you'll hear their take on it. I didn't find it too offensive- it sounds like the guitar tone from that Morrissey song "How Soon is Now?".
Piskvorrr 8y ago
Note that you're describing the main operating mode in the last paragraph - this holds true for parking lots as it does for other shared spaces (who should be paying attention is somewhat academic). Over 20 mph, the tires are the main noise source even with gasoline cars (unless you take off the exhaust muffler, which is a bit of a corner case).
Obi_Juan_Kenobi 8y ago
May cars already implement such a noise. The fact that most people don't realize this, despite undoubtedly being exposed to it regularly (the Prius has had this since 2012, for example), is a good indication of how unobtrusive it is.

RankingMember 8y ago

I'm not sure I understand your argument with regard to responsibility. When I'm laying on the pavement, I don't think I'll care that much whose responsibility it was to avoid the collision. To your last point, why would a car emitting noise result in people speeding through parking lots? Most cars on the road are already emitting noise. This is just bringing hybrid and electric cars into parity with existing vehicles. If you happen to witness a Fisker Karma cruising around at low speed, you'll hear their take on it. I didn't find it too offensive- it sounds like the guitar tone from that Morrissey song "How Soon is Now?".

Piskvorrr 8y ago

Note that you're describing the main operating mode in the last paragraph - this holds true for parking lots as it does for other shared spaces (who should be paying attention is somewhat academic). Over 20 mph, the tires are the main noise source even with gasoline cars (unless you take off the exhaust muffler, which is a bit of a corner case).

Obi_Juan_Kenobi 8y ago

May cars already implement such a noise. The fact that most people don't realize this, despite undoubtedly being exposed to it regularly (the Prius has had this since 2012, for example), is a good indication of how unobtrusive it is.