[nfbmi-talk] U.S. proposes minimum sounds for 'quiet cars'

Tue Jan 8 14:05:23 UTC 2013

I also made a statement on this subject in my presentation at the NFB 
national convention in Dallas in 2009.

Sincerely,
Marcus Simmons - President
ASE Certified Technician
Motown Automotive Professionals nonprofit
A 501(C)(3) Public Charity
55390 Lion Industrial Drive
New Hudson, MI 48165-8544
(248) 552-8928
See our story at:
http://www.carcrazycentral.com/Video.aspx?VideoID=306
And get more information at:
http://www.map-n.org
Email: president at map-n.org

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Daniel Garcia" <dangarcia3 at hotmail.com>
To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2013 8:25 AM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] U.S. proposes minimum sounds for 'quiet cars'

> U.S. proposes minimum sounds for 'quiet cars'
>
> By David Shepardson
> The Detroit News
>
>
> http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130107/AUTO01/301070407/U-S-proposes-mi
> nimum-sounds-quiet-cars-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE
>
>
> The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is proposing new rules 
> to
> require minimum sound levels from electric vehicles, hybrids and other 
> quiet
> cars to warn pedestrians.
>
> NHTSA's proposal - required by Congress in 2010 - sets minimum sound 
> levels
> for hybrid and electric vehicles to help make all pedestrians, especially
> visually impaired people, aware of approaching vehicles.
>
> Electric and hybrid vehicles do not rely on traditional engines and at low
> speeds can be very difficult to hear.
>
> NHTSA plans to phase in the new rules starting in the 2016 model year over
> three years. It expects the proposal will cost the auto industry about $23
> million during the first year.
>
> NHTSA estimates the cost of adding a speaker system to comply with the
> requirements to be around $35 per vehicle.
>
> The new rules would also apply to electric motorcycles and heavy-duty
> vehicles - despite the opposition of BMW to the motorcycle requirement.
>
> But the rules would not apply to quiet traditional internal combustion
> engines or those equipped with "stop-start" fuel-saving technology that
> shuts off the motor at intersections. NHTSA said it may in the future opt 
> to
> require sounds in those vehicles.
>
> NHTSA estimates the odds of a hybrid vehicle being involved in a 
> pedestrian
> crash is 19 percent higher compared with traditional gas- or 
> diesel-powered
> vehicles. For a bicycle crash, it's 38 percent higher.
>
> "Our proposal would allow manufacturers the flexibility to design 
> different
> sounds for different makes and models while still providing an opportunity
> for pedestrians, bicyclists and the visually impaired to detect and
> recognize a vehicle and make a decision about whether it is safe to cross
> the street," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.
>
> The sounds would need to be detectable under a wide range of street noises
> and other ambient background sounds when the vehicle is traveling less 
> than
> 18 mph.
>
> The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers - the trade group representing
> Detroit's Big Three automakers, Toyota Motor Corp., Volkswagen AG and 
> others
> - praised the flexibility in the rule, but is still reviewing it.
>
> "We understand that the proposal allows for some flexibilities in the
> specifics of the simulated sound autos will produce, while avoiding 
> opening
> a Pandora's box of sounds. That's how it is in the real world: Some cars
> sound differently than others; it can even differ from one brand to the
> next," spokesman Wade Newton said. "The alliance will continue working 
> with
> National Federation of the Blind, and others, to work toward this being 
> the
> model for an international safety standard. In the coming weeks we'll 
> review
> the proposal's technical elements to help ensure that the safety standard
> meets the needs of the blind, and takes into appropriate consideration
> concerns about overall levels of ambient noise."
>
> Automakers told NHTSA not to worry about setting the specific sounds.
>
> Automakers said "they did not believe it was necessary to try to prevent
> annoying sounds because manufacturers would not use annoying sounds as 
> alert
> sounds because they do not want to annoy their customers," NHTSA said.
>
> NHTSA is considering allowing hybrid and electric vehicles to meet the
> minimum sound requirements for the backing scenario with a beeping sound
> similar to the sound made by a backing truck, but wants to know "whether
> such a sound would be annoying to the public."
>
> NHTSA said at 18 mph and above, vehicles make sufficient noise to allow
> pedestrians and bicyclists to detect them without added sound.
>
> NHTSA is allowing automakers to have a significant range of choices about
> the sounds it chooses for its vehicles, but the characteristics of the
> sounds must meet certain minimum requirements.
>
> NHTSA says each vehicle of the same make and model would need to emit the
> same sound or set of sounds.
>
> NHTSA estimates the proposal will lead to 2,800 fewer pedestrian and 
> cyclist
> injuries over the life of each model year, compared to vehicles without
> sound.
>
> NHTSA has been studying the issue since 2007.
>
> In September 2009, NHTSA's study of 600,000 crashes found hybrid vehicles
> are two times more likely than traditional gas-powered vehicles to be in a
> pedestrian crash when the vehicle is backing out, slowing or stopping,
> starting in traffic, and entering or leaving a parking spot.
>
> NHTSA is working with regulators in Japan and the European Union to set a
> single standard for automakers worldwide for minimum sound levels through 
> a
> United Nations working group.
>
> In developing the rules, NHTSA staff traveled to the national headquarters
> of the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, where NHTSA staff 
> were
> blindfolded and trained to use a white cane outside on city streets with
> blind and visually impaired individuals as guides.
>
> NHTSA officials attempted to navigate city streets and cross at 
> non-signaled
> intersections.
>
> dshepardson at detnews.com
>
> (202) 662-8735
>
>
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