Quiet hybrids pose an 'invisible' risk (Hybrids Alert!)

Mercury News ^ | 2/3/06 | Gary Richards

[NormsRevenge]

Jenny Sant'Anna was so excited. She had waited months for just the right hybrid, choosing a Toyota Highlander because, though she wants great mileage, she also needs space to cart around her two elementary school kids and three classmates.

It was during her first trip out of the driveway on a warm August morning that Sant'Anna learned about one of the dangerous drawbacks of driving a hybrid: It's so quiet that pedestrians can't hear it when it's starting up or idling, and they often walk right into the path of the moving vehicle.

--snip--

When idling, hybrids run on the quiet electric battery. Most, with the exception of GM and Honda hybrids, can also operate on the battery until the car reaches higher speeds, when the gas engine kicks in.

What follows is silence at locations where drivers are likely to tangle with pedestrians and bicyclists -- crosswalks, turning lanes and parking lots.

In Sant'Anna's case, an elderly man enjoying a morning walk didn't hear her coming as she backed into the street. She lunged for the brake, stopping just short of hitting him.

``He was in my blind spot on one side,'' said Sant'Anna, 41, ..

``Then I turned to look back on the other side and saw him clearing the corner of my car. I don't think he heard me and my heart almost stopped.''

Tom Battle of Los Altos recalled his own near-hit as he walked to his car in the parking lot at Symantec in Mountain View, where he is the director of engineering.

``I had to jump out of the way of a hybrid, which suddenly, and completely silently, moved toward me,'' he said. ``The car was a brand new Prius, which I remember because it was still very shiny.''

[iPod Shuffle]

Oh my, Hybrids kill!

[bikepacker67]

In Sant'Anna's case, an elderly man enjoying a morning walk didn't hear her coming as she backed into the street.

Ehhh... honey... YOU are supposed to be looking to make sure the coast is clear before BACKING INTO THE STREET

[PeteB570]

I try and I try and I try to tell my wife that now matter what, you have to back up either getting in or out of the driveway.

A person has more time coming home so they should back into the driveway and then when they have to go it's straight on to the road.

[Publius6961]

It's so quiet that pedestrians can't hear it when it's starting up or idling, and they often walk right into the path of the moving vehicle.

I've been driving my hybrid for over three years and have never experienced this problem.
I can think of two reasons just off the top of my head.

First, it takes two to create such a scenario.
Second, I am not inclined to search out "reporters" who are trolling for moonbats.

Cute story for the clueless, though.

[hattend]

When idling, hybrids run on the quiet electric battery.

How does an electric motor "idle"?

Stupid reporter

[Publius6961]

As hybrid sales skyrocket, there's a growing concern that the battery-gas powered vehicles pose a risk because they aren't as noisy as gas-powered engines.

For the benefit of the mentally-challenged among us, I suppose we can put playing cards on the wheel spokes?
That worked when we were kids...

The silence and reduced noise is among the best-loved things about my hybrid.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Tom Battle of Los Altos recalled his own near-hit as he walked to his car in the parking lot at Symantec in Mountain View, where he is the director of engineering.

``The car was a brand new Prius, which I remember because it was still very shiny.''

Is it just me, or does the use of third grade logic from someone who is a director of enginering at a software company disturb anyone else?

[Redcloak]

Do you mean to tell us that you don't set the font to "shiny" when you made a change to your code? That's some pretty sloppy documentation, bud.

[Redcloak]

But seriously...

I'm no tree hugger, but I hope that hybrid SUVs come down in price. I'd love to have one. It would be great to have "stealth mode" available during the hunting season.

[CharlesWayneCT]

It is true that some people, when walking in parking lots, are counting on their hearing to know if a car is started or not, and will walk right behind your car while you are backing up. That is a problem for many new cars that don't make a lot of noise, or if there are other cars making noise.

But I do back my prius up very carefully, both for this reason and because I don't want to get hit by speeding cars. I also sometimes wait until the engine kicks on before backing up, or (MY FAVORITE) I role down the back windows and my kids shout "beep, beep, beep" while I'm backing up.

Elderly people don't hear well, so you should never count on them hearing your car backing up. And if someone's walking on the sidewalk, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY over your driveway.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

That is actually a good idea. It also makes it more convenient to unload grocery and stuff.

My mother witnessed a similar accident at a shopping center when a lady was hit in a parking lot by a hybrid. The witness' all stated that she walked right behind the car as it was backing up because she didn't know that the car was running.

The same issue happens with those electric golf cars you can't hear them as they approach you.

[Publius6961]

BUMP!

[Publius6961]

BUMP!