Blind Person Advocates Say Hybrids Pose Safety Threat

Washington DC; February 12, 2007; The AIADA newsletter reported that for blind people, crossing the street just got more challenging. Hybrids, which switch between a gasoline engine and an electric motor, are almost silent when idling at a stop or running at low speeds.

According to the Wall Street Journal, blind pedestrians are largely dependent on the sounds of traffic to cross streets safely, and have had close calls with the quiet hybrids.

The National Federation of the Blind says all hybrid vehicles should emit a sound while turned on and is calling on the auto industry to make changes. The group says the sound should be loud enough to be heard over the din of other ambient noise and have discussed sound cues that hybrids could use to alert pedestrians, including a device built into the axle that could make a sound as the wheels rotate, or a sensor that blind travelers could carry that would indicate when a hybrid is in the vicinity.

So far, advocacy groups' pleas for louder hybrids have failed to generate much noise in automotive circles. Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong says he believes that the responsibility lies with drivers and pedestrians to watch out for each other, adding "One of the benefits of the vehicles is that they don't contribute to traffic noise."