[Quietcars] Chevrolet volt review: No mention of audible cues for pedestrians.

[Robert Wilson]

Hi Michael,

> Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:44:40 -0500
> From: mrtownsend at optonline.net
> To: quietcars at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Quietcars] Chevrolet volt review: No mention of audible cues for	pedestrians.
> 
> In doing research on the Chevrolet Volt, the only thing I found for
> accessible cues to allert bystanders is that the driver can activate and
> deactivate a horn if someone's getting too close to this vehicle. . . .
Whatever is around today doesn't really matter. I would recommend reading the text of S.841 to understand what has been passed:http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-111s841is/pdf/BILLS-111s841is.pdf
According to language of S.841, the NHTSA has 90 days to start a study. The study can take up to two years to complete before submission to Congress. Within 90 days of the submission, the NHTSA issues regulations usually with a 90 day comment period. Then within two years, the regulations come into effect. The language suggests the longest duration is four and a half to five years. 
The shortest could be just under three years: start the study now; a quick study and release it to Congress; 90 days to issue regulations and; two years to have the mandated noise generators show up in new cars. We are already three weeks after S.841 was signed on January 4 and no announcement of the 'study'. It might help to look at another piece of legislated safety changes.
The Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act was signed in February 28, 2008. The final regulations will be approved in February 2011 with compliance mandatory in two years, 2013. This is roughly five years from law to implementation for regulations that address 200 documented deaths per year. 
Bob Wilson