Peace, Quiet, and Safety
Growing up in Kansas was loud. Sure, our family often traveled to the country or the lake for some peace and quiet, but for the most part it was pretty noisy. We lived by the highway, so the constant hum of traffic is something that I have trouble sleeping without.
Some places were louder than others. Excited teenagers would often rev their souped-up Hondas in the Golden Corral parking lot. A perfect Saturday night. I was across the street in the CD Trade Post/Taco Bell parking lot, learning how to skateboard. My yellow Subaru made a lot of noises, but none of them were impressive.
Of course, New York is a different kind of loud. The honking, the traffic, the construction. Everything is moving and making noise all the time. It really is the city that never sleeps.
Small hybrid and electric vehicles can be silent. This can be dangerous. In an effort to protect pedestrians, especially ones who are blind or have low vision, NHTSA recently announced a sound requirement for all new hybrid and electric light vehicles. The ‘Quiet Car’ federal safety standard will require these vehicles to make an audible noise when in reverse or when traveling forwards at speeds up to 19 miles an hour. Factors including tire and wind noise provide an adequate audible warning at higher speeds.
"We all depend on our senses to alert us to possible danger," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in a recent press release. "With more, quieter hybrid and electrical cars on the road, the ability for all pedestrians to hear as well as see the cars becomes an important factor of reducing the risk of possible crashes and improving safety."
Manufacturers have until Sept. 1, 2019 to equip all new hybrid/electric vehicles with the technology, while half of the vehicles must be in compliance one year prior to the deadline.
"We commend NHTSA on bringing this process to completion," said Eric Bridges, executive director of the American council of the Blind said in the press release. "This new safety standard moving forward will not just make our streets safer for blind and visually impaired Americans, but also serve as an additional safety cue for all pedestrians who share the streets with hybrid or electric vehicles."
Quiet cars are no more.
Rear View Safety offers a variety of waterproof backup alarms. These alarms mount to the back of the vehicle and send out a loud signal whenever the vehicle is in reverse.
You’ve heard them.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
It means, pay attention, be alert, and check your surroundings.
My apartment is a block away from a Tesla showroom. Every once in a while I’ll see a Tesla creeping down the road on a quiet test drive. Soon that noise will grow louder and blend into the city soundscape.
