Japan Studies Noisier Hybrids to Protect Blind
One attractive aspect of a hybrid or electric car is its super-quiet drive. But worries are growing that blind people may be endangered by the vehicles' silence.
The Japanese government has set up a panel with auto makers, organizations for the blind and consumer groups to come up with a solution, which could have such vehicles emitting what would sound like engine noise, or musical sounds like a cellphone ring tone, officials said Tuesday.
A legal change would be needed to equip the vehicles with such special features.
"We are still listening to different opinions and trying to figure out the best solution,'' said Yuta Kaga, spokesman for Toyota Motor Corp., which makes the gas-electric Prius hybrid and is represented on the panel.
The panel, which began meeting in July, plans to have a proposal ready by the end of the year, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
The group was set up partly in response to worries voiced by the blind.
The Japan Federation of the Blind, which submitted a request in June, is asking the government to instruct hybrid manufacturers to make the vehicles safer for the blind.
An informal survey of 52 blind people carried out by the group last year found that more than half of the respondents said they were terrified of hybrids because they were so quiet, although none reported being in an accident.
Japan Studies Noisier Hybrids to Protect Blind - WSJ.com
The Japanese government has set up a panel with auto makers, organizations for the blind and consumer groups to come up with a solution, which could have such vehicles emitting what would sound like engine noise, or musical sounds like a cellphone ring tone, officials said Tuesday.
A legal change would be needed to equip the vehicles with such special features.
"We are still listening to different opinions and trying to figure out the best solution,'' said Yuta Kaga, spokesman for Toyota Motor Corp., which makes the gas-electric Prius hybrid and is represented on the panel.
The panel, which began meeting in July, plans to have a proposal ready by the end of the year, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
The group was set up partly in response to worries voiced by the blind.
The Japan Federation of the Blind, which submitted a request in June, is asking the government to instruct hybrid manufacturers to make the vehicles safer for the blind.
An informal survey of 52 blind people carried out by the group last year found that more than half of the respondents said they were terrified of hybrids because they were so quiet, although none reported being in an accident.
Japan Studies Noisier Hybrids to Protect Blind - WSJ.com
