Electric cars must make a noise
Imagine the new options catalogue. Everything from a beginners kit which includes a playing card and a clothes peg up to a personalised audio recording from your favourite celebrity making various “brrrrrrmmmm” sounds.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48815968
Electric cars must make a noise
It does make sense at low speed, primarily for the blind, but at higher speeds there isn’t much difference.
Noise regs makes sure the engine noise from ICE vehicles can’t usually be heard above that of the tyres and wind at 20mph plus.
I’d quite happily have my van sound like a WSB 888 or 916 but I don’t think that’d go down too well!
Electric cars must make a noise
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mouse
Appropriate engine sounds broadcast at all speeds should be a no-brainer. For the safety of pedestrians and all road users.
But the noise in that clip. WTF!
I’m actually of the opinion that, other than for the blind, there should be no need for any additional sounds and that people should learn to take responsibility for their own actions and pay attention to what they are doing!
In the meantime, I’m fully aware of the fact that most people are oblivious to their surroundings and therefore take extra care when in car parks or other areas where I’m likely to encounter pedestrians.
Electric cars must make a noise
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Huertecilla
The rights of safety of pedestraians and other less well armoured, less mechanised users of the public space weighs heaviest.
The default is being a pedestrian and when you decide to use a car, you take responsibility for the potential lethality of it. E-vehjicles being heavier makes them potentially móre lethal and them moving about in stealth mode does not help.
With rights there should also be responsibilities. Pedestrians need to learn that in potentially dangerous situations, they should be extra vigilant. I’m not saying that a motorist doesn’t have a duty of care but it’s wrong to always make the motorist the guilty party.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Huertecilla
About that paying attention to what you are doing; a large part of the spacial awareness is sound. Cyclist p.e. are not allowed to have music in both ears for the same reason that e-cars should not drive around in stealth mode.
E-cars don’t drive in stealth mode, they just drive normally. They just happen to be particularly quiet at low speeds. At normal road speeds, they make as much sound as any other vehicle.
The irony that successive governments down the years have sought to vilify vehicles that make too much noise and are now doing the same to vehicles that don’t make enough noise, is not list on me.