[Quietcars] 2009 Washington Seminar Materials

[Robert Wilson]

Hi Michael,

Thank you for the kind words. My hope is we move towards a fact based discussion backed up by empirical data. So all recorded accident and injury data is an important, a crtical part of the total picture. 

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> Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:11:03 -0500
> From: mrtownsend at optonline.net
> To: quietcars at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [Quietcars] 2009 Washington Seminar Materials
>
> Bob, you brig up some very valid points; first, reporting the accident at
> the time of the accident, 

Although this is best, it is also important to make a report if you seek treatment hours or a day or so later. I suspect hospitals are pretty good about passing on these hospitalization records but a private practitioner might not be so circumspect. Even if the vehicle is not identified, it is important to measure the relative risks from all accidents and get it on the record. Let me give you a case in point.

Last year there was a report of someone having their foot run over when a car that was also a hybrid backed out. We didn't get any details such as whether or not an ambulance was called or if there was a follow-up visit to a clinic. If the one whose foot was run over sought medical attention, even just an x-ray to confirm no broken or dislocated joints, it is important that the medical record be complete and whatever accident reporting forms be filled out and turned in. 

It doesn't take just an on-the-scene accident report to get the record
into our public health and accident reporting systems. But sometimes
private physicians are busy and a reminder by the patient should always
be welcome.

Now that hybrid back-over accident was important because the Prius has a backup beep. That backup beep is sounded through the car radio system within the cabin and the pedestrian didn't metion hearing it. But back-over accidents do kill and that is being addressed by legislation. At the Detroit Auto Show, I noticed that backup cameras are becoming nearly universal options. Depending upon how the Cameron Gulbransen Kids and Cars Safety Act turns out, backup cameras may become universal ... a good thing! 

Today, every USA car has backup, white lights. I have wondered why the backup lights don't have a buzzer wired across the light. But given that the Chidester report of back-over accidents showed gas cars that always including the engine running exhaust, it is entirely possible that reverse beeps or nosie are not that effective. In some of the accident reports, the taped off areas of the impact zone included the exhaust pipe. If I remember correctly someone on this list once pointed out that the very loud, back-up clanking noise generators of refuse trucks are sometimes difficult to locat due to echos ... if I understood their posting.

Bob Wilson


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