[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

[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?

[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.