[nabs-l] Hybrid Car warning sounds was Re: Pedestrian safety improvement act

Fri Apr 24 12:35:28 UTC 2009

List,

        First off research has already begun on incorporating a warning 
sound for hybrid cars at low speed.  Stanford has published the results of 
one study examining a warning sound device.  The study was published earlier 
this semester, ask your college librarian to track the article down if 
you're interested.  Also, GM is funding projects at Virginia Tech and Wright 
State (and possibly other universities as well) to build and test warning 
systems.  Last I heard road testing of the warning system for the Virginia 
Tech car would begin in the Fall '09 semester.  Someone attending Wright 
State might be able to provide an update on their project.

Patrick
@Virginia Tech

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "jonte" <jonte711 at gmail.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 1:51 AM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Pedestrian safety improvement act


> Maybe a sound device in the cane is not very feasible, but I really do not 
> think that the car companies are going to be extremely concerned with 
> accommodating small minorities. Convincing them to put a sound device in 
> these hybrid cars will take a very long time. I think that we should first 
> explore all possible alternatives.
> Jonte
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Jacobson <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 10:09 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list 
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Pedestrian safety improvement act
>
> Unfortunately, we can't just express a want for something and think that 
> can make it happen.  Try to first think how a
> hybrid car would be detectable among all the other cars.  Then try to 
> imagine what sort of
> feedback could be given by your cane that could be equal to even a small 
> sound heard with your ears.  It just isn't
> practical as far as I can see, and a small sound would also be useful to 
> children and other pedestrians.  I don't know
> how the laws read, bot most large trucks and fork lifts have loud warning 
> beeps when they move already to warn
> everybody.  We're asking for much less to avoid situations that could be 
> much more dangerous.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Steve Jacobson
>
>>Original message:
>>> How about putting a mechanism in the cane that detects the hybrid car?
>>> I think that would be much more effective than trying to persuade the
>>> car companies to accommodate us.
>>> Jonte
>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Robert Spangler <spangler.robert at gmail.com>
>>> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 8:06 PM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list 
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Pedestrian safety improvement act
>
>>> I totally agree with you but I think you misunderstand the legislation.
>>>   It is not necessarily saying that we have to cause setbacks in hybrid
>>> cars or even how we should be able to hear them.  It simply states that
>>> the department of transportation would have to research it.  It can be
>>> done without being a hinderance--there could be a mechanism on the car
>>> that would make a sound whose speed changes with the speed of the car.
>>> And let's remember that we don't want noise; we just want something that
>>> is audible.  I think that most blind people would agree with sighted
>>> people that they don't want loud trucks driving past their houses.
>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Robby
>
>>> Jim Reed wrote:
>>>> Hello,
>>>> I am not quite sure how to feel on this issue. On one hand, quiet cars
>>>> might pose a saftey risk to blind persons and others, but on the other
>>>> hand, there is such a thing as noise pollution, air pollution,
>>>> dependence on forign oil, and enviromental damage.
>
>>>> Aditionally, there is another element of this issue related to the
>>>> support or hinderance of societal progress. Hybrids represent the next
>>>> great leap in our society, if additional laws are passed regulating
>>>> this development, it may prove to hinder the development of the hybrid
>>>> car. Remember, the impact of hybrid cars isnt just a blindness issue,
>>>> there are much more importiant nation issues at stake. For example,
>>>> national security risk via a dependence of forign oil.
>
>>>> There are also economic concerns. The continued research and
>>>> development of hybrids, alternative fuels, and  "green" energy, will
>>>> potentially be the savior of our economy. If hybrids become the next
>>>> big thing, they could jumpstart the nearly dead auto industry, thus
>>>> helping our economy and individual families. If you go to the national
>>>> convention in Detroit, you will all see first hand the conciquences of
>>>> this current economic collapes. Now is the time to be supporting
>>>> industy and inovation, not hindering it.
>
>>>> Lastly, if blind independence is truely the goal of the NFB and blind
>>>> persons, then the burden is on us -- blind people-- to adapt to the
>>>> changing world, the burden is not on the world to adapt to us. Perhaps
>>>> in the era of silent cars, it may be time to tweak cane-travel 
>>>> methodologies?
>
>>>> I can't support this. I will not be a party to the hinderance of
>>>> societal progress, continued enviromental degradfation,  or further
>>>> economic decline. I will not expect industy or tax payers to foot the
>>>> bill because I (we) refuse to adapt.
>
>>>> Well thats my two cents
>>>> Jim
>
>>>> "Ignorance killed the cat; curiosity was framed."
>
>
>
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>
>
>>> --
>>> Robert Spangler
>>> The University of Toledo
>>> Student Senate - Recording Secretary
>>> Ohio Association of Blind Students - President
>
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>
>>-- 
>>REspectfully,
>>Jedi
>
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