[Quietcars] How will the Start/Stop system affect blind pedestrians?

[michael townsend]

Jewel, the stop/start technology poses problems for anyone, let alone blind
people.  To save fuel and energy, this is going to have to be the way we
pursue the challenge, and, components like air conditioning and other
accessories will have to be able to run off of automobile alternators and
generators, thus, there will always be some noise.  

I have not looked into this problem as such, but I think that there is going
to have to be some kind of noise factor implemented in order to make the
roads safer for all pedestrians whether this issue surrounds hybrids of this
stop/start system about which you write.  I travel with a Seeing Eye dog,
but on  the whole, which I think, not because of the school from which I got
my dog, sets a little higher bar for safer travel over a cane with regard to
the hybrid or quieter car, but I think that it is incumbent upon all of us
who are out in the streets to familiarize ourselves both with changing
traffic patterns and automobile usage in order that we keep ourselves safe
and keep motorists on their collective toes as well.  



Mike T in NJ, with Seeing Eye dog Brent.
 

-----Original Message-----
From: quietcars-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:quietcars-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jewel S.
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 8:02 PM
To: quietcars at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Quietcars] How will the Start/Stop system affect blind
pedestrians?

Dear List,
I have been reading a lot lately about the introduction of the start/stop
system into the American autobmobile industry, and I have much concern about
it. I am not sure if I understand the start/stop system completely
correctly, and I hope you can shed some list on it for me.

>From what I've been reading, the start/stop system is much like the
hybrid concept except that it doesn't have the electronic component.
According to an article on Smart Planet, "when an equipped car stops, so
does its engine." ("American Cars Will Soon Get 'Start-Stop'
Fule-Saving Tech,
www.smartplanet.com/technology/.../american...start-stop.../5231/). If this
is so, wouldn't that mean that when the car is idling, it will be silent,
just like quiet cars?

How will this start-stop system affect blind pedestrians' ability to
determine idling traffic at stop signs, red lights, waiting to turn from a
parking lot or driveway, or in other similar situations? I fear that it will
make the roads even more dangerous for blind pedestrians who rely on the
sound of idling traffic to know if there is a car to look out for.

With concern,
~Jewel
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com

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