Key Stakeholders Agree on Proposed Silent Car Legislation

[laundryshark]

The National Federation of the Blind, the American Council of the Blind, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers announced today that they have agreed on proposed legislative language that will protect blind pedestrians and others from the danger posed by silent vehicle technology. The four organizations are urging Congress to adopt and pass the language as part of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010—which is currently pending in both houses of Congress—as quickly as possible. The proposed language would require the Department of Transportation to promulgate a motor vehicle safety standard requiring automobiles to emit a minimum level of sound to alert the blind and other pedestrians. For more on this exciting development, please read the official press release.--Laundry Shark

http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=594

 

[alr2903]

What if the visually impaired person, is also hearing impaired? alr2903

 

[hydralique]

In that case, the lack of sound from a car will make no change to their safety in parking lots. For everyone else, not hearing a car coming up can be a problem. It's worse for those with impaired vision, but even sighted people will often realize a car is coming up from behind only when they hear it.

 

[tolivac]

Are we going to go back to having someone waving a red lantern before you drive by?Yes with my Hybrid Lexus it makes hardly any sound when it is running on the electric motor only.