[Quietcars] Clarification: operator enabled or on all the time

[michael townsend]

And, this is precisely what people found to have been true of the Lotus and
one other development in that it was driver activated or cancelled.  

However, to the credit of GM and Lotus, at least there is something in the
works.  Coupling this type of system with the costly but effective
pedestrian warning systems available on Toyota Prius models, albeit on the
highest trim level, and other German manufacturers, that decelerate and
brake a car if something or someone gets in its path, is, at the very least,
a super start.  

Thanks, Deb.
 

-----Original Message-----
From: quietcars-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:quietcars-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Deborah Kent Stein
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 2:55 PM
To: Discussion of new quiet cars and pedestrian safety
Subject: Re: [Quietcars] Clarification: operator enabled or on all the time



To help clarify the matter, the 2010 Chevy Volt from GM incorporates an
"active" pedestrian alert system.  The driver turns on the flashing lights,
which causes a light beeping sound to be emitted as an audible warning.  HR
734 calls for the development of a "passive" system, one that is not driver
activated; this would enable pedestrians to take a reasonable share of
responsibility for their own safety.

Debbie

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Wilson" <bwilson4web at hotmail.com>
To: <quietcars at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 12:23 AM
Subject: [Quietcars] Clarification: operator enabled or on all the time


>
> Hi,
>
> Recently, there has been some buzz in the hybrid community that the goal 
> is to:
>
> ". . . There is no sound unless the driver wishes to make sound. Just like

> the
> horn won't blow until you hit the middle of the steering wheel - the
> pedestrian alert will not sound unless you pull the "flash to pass"
> stalk." - posting in PriusChat, May 25, 9:35 PM.
>
> However, I remember David Evans posting to this list, "It also has to be 
> something that is on any time the key is on and the vehicle is ready to 
> move." 11/1/2007 4:48 PM. Also the language of HR 734 and S 841 are 
> explicit that "require that vehicles emit a minimum level of sound" with 
> no mention of an operator control. My understanding is the noise generator

> would NOT have an operator control.
>
> Am I correct, the noise generator would not have an operator control like 
> a "flash to pass" option on the light control stick?
>
> BACKGROUND: most cars have a light control stalk similar to the turn 
> signal indicator. When passing traffic on the highway or other times when 
> we need to attract the attention of other drivers, we can briefly pull the

> stalk and flash the lights. It is often used when passing trucks on the 
> highway and has replaced a long forgotten practice of 'bleeping' the horn 
> (for those who drove in the 1950s!) This light switch stalk is spring 
> loaded to return to OFF.
>
> Adding a short bleep to this 'flash to pass' would significantly improve 
> the safety of all drivers, both hybrid and non-hybrid by adding an 
> automatic, audio alarm to the visual, light flash. But we do not see this 
> intent in the current legislation nor any of the advocacy postings for 
> putting audio alarms on hybrids. In fact, I remember some pretty skeptical

> statements, not just David Evans, that the vehicle operator should have no

> control of the audio alarm. That is why I'm asking the question.
>
> Bob Wilson
>
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