Silent Running.

[Speedbird-1]

Almost got flattened by an electric car, in our local garden centre car park this morning!

I had just loaded my purchases in our estate car, stepped back slightly to close the boot, when the wing mirror of a car brushed against my back.
Blimey.....that was close!

You could say 'poor driving' or accuse me of lack of attention.
The car that shaved me was only doing 10-15mph max but, almost silently.

Will a, 'pedestrian area noise mode' be the next 'thing' in the interest of safety?
Some vans and trucks make a beeping noise when reversing, so it's doable.

What sound would you choose for your car park noise.

I'm going for that electronic version of "Greensleaves" played by ice cream vans!
That, or the sound of my old Laverda Jota on overrun.

[Brew]

I've noticed while running on quiet mornings that if the tires didn't make noise against the pavement, I wouldn't hear them coming.

[EEpro]

More unintended consequences. Imagine the risk to the blind.

[JasoninDenver]

In the US, electric cars are to be required to put noise making devices that operate up to about 20 mph. This new rule is supposed to go in effect this summer on new cars. This has been a big problem with a 20% increase in pedestrian accidents at slow speeds when compared with regular cars.

[superdog]

Ban them.

[DLRIDES]

Originally Posted by JasoninDenver

In the US, electric cars are to be required to put noise making devices that operate up to about 20 mph. This new rule is supposed to go in effect this summer on new cars. This has been a big problem with a 20% increase in pedestrian accidents at slow speeds when compared with regular cars.

This

[crew]

If everyone drove an Italian sports car, or pretty much any Italian car, we wouldn’t have this problem.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by superdog

Ban them.

You make me smile

[Beo3]

Originally Posted by superdog

Ban them.

hahahaha!!!!

I missed your humor Seth, and am glad that you're back around.

More "G" wagons are needed!!!!

On a personal note - I love the G wagon, but the Misses hates it. And since she is the primary driver of the M/B's, she gets what she wants, a GLE 350.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by brandrea

You make me smile

My job is done here.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Beo3

hahahaha!!!!

I missed your humor Seth, and am glad that you're back around.

More "G" wagons are needed!!!!

On a personal note - I love the G wagon, but the Misses hates it. And since she is the primary driver of the M/B's, she gets what she wants, a GLE 350.

Definitely a love hate type of car. I totally get it.

Love the GLE. Great lines. Super vehicle!!!

[swils8610]

Originally Posted by superdog

Ban them.

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[bondtoys]

Originally Posted by JasoninDenver

In the US, electric cars are to be required to put noise making devices that operate up to about 20 mph. This new rule is supposed to go in effect this summer on new cars. This has been a big problem with a 20% increase in pedestrian accidents at slow speeds when compared with regular cars.

Same here,

all EVs have to generate a sound up to 30km/h by law.
Above that speed, usually, the tire noise is louder than the engine noise from a modern combustion engine.

[Burlington]

On a similar note, I discovered after blowing a a cars speakers out that the indicator noise in the cabin plays through the speakers.

Probably obvious when one thinks about it, but until the car is indicating silently you never really realise where that tick tick tick comes from.

[JasoninDenver]

Originally Posted by crew

If everyone drove an Italian sports car, or pretty much any Italian car, we wouldn’t have this problem.

I am assume you mean because they would be operable so very infrequently?

[TK-710]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

I had just loaded my purchases in our estate car, stepped back slightly to close the boot, when the wing mirror of a car brushed against my back.
Blimey.....that was close!

For my fellow Americans:

I just put my crap in the trunk of my car and when I backed up to slam the trunk shut I almost got taken out by some tool driving some kind of Prius Tesla wannabe. He damn near clipped me with his side view mirror. F Me! That was close.

[TheVTCGuy]

This happened a while ago, but I was driving my hybrid down a lane in a parking lot, slow and on the electric motor. A guy who had been walking down the side of the lane suddenly cut in to the middle of the lane and I had to hit the breaks hard to keep from hitting him. He looked back, startled, and said: “Well you’re driving a hybrid!” As if it were my fault, but he was very angry. I told him to go have carnal knowledge with himself.

The switch to EVs may necessitate a little more situational awareness of pedestrians, but I don’t think it will compare to the smart phone. I can’t how many times I have almost hit/run in to/knocked over some moron with their smartphone six inches in front of their face and walking at full speed straight ahead.

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

This happened a while ago, but I was driving my hybrid down a lane in a parking lot, slow and on the electric motor. A guy who had been walking down the side of the lane suddenly cut in to the middle of the lane and I had to hit the breaks hard to keep from hitting him. He looked back, startled, and said: “Well you’re driving a hybrid!” As if it were my fault, but he was very angry. I told him to go have carnal knowledge with himself.

The switch to EVs may necessitate a little more situational awareness of pedestrians, but I don’t think it will compare to the smart phone. I can’t how many times I have almost hit/run in to/knocked over some moron with their smartphone six inches in front of their face and walking at full speed straight ahead.

I would suggest that, when driving a silent car, it would be advisable to use the motorcycists survival philosophy and always assume that: 'everyone around you is going to do exactly what you wouldn't want them to do'!

Perhaps pedestrians are going to have to adopt the other bikers habit of
a quick look over the shoulder before changing direction......"the life saver".

As for the, face in the 'phone numpty, just drop your shoulder and: maintain present heading.

[donas]

Funny timing for such a post; my wife and I walked right in front of a car pulling out of a parking spot today because it was so quiet. Granted, our fault, but he was pulling out forward, LOL....guess he thought we saw or heard him.

[TheVTCGuy]

Along these lines, I have decided my next vehicle (who knows when I actually get it) I will be trading in my hybrid and getting a Tesla Model Y. So any pedestrian in the greater San Diego area had better listen for me yelling out the open window: “Vroooooom!!!! Vrooooommm!”

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by superdog

Ban them.

[whatsthetime?]

Pedestians have the right of way no matter what, so the drivers of these EV's need to be more aware and realize they are not heard. With that being said, I do agree that pedestrians also have to have more awareness as well. E-bikes are a big issue these days as well.

[Blansky]

Soon you’ll be able to program into your EV the sound of your choice, A 62 Volkswagen Beetle, a 1969 396 Chevy, a super car of your choice or a 72 Gremlin with the muffler dragging on the ground.

[donas]

Originally Posted by whatsthetime?

Pedestians have the right of way no matter what, so the drivers of these EV's need to be more aware and realize they are not heard. With that being said, I do agree that pedestrians also have to have more awareness as well. E-bikes are a big issue these days as well.

I guess that is dependent on state law. In SC, pedestrians have the right away only in crosswalks and on sidewalks. In all the auto/pedestrian collisions I have worked, very rarely is the vehicle operator at fault - almost never.

[tritium8]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Along these lines, I have decided my next vehicle (who knows when I actually get it) I will be trading in my hybrid and getting a Tesla Model Y. So any pedestrian in the greater San Diego area had better listen for me yelling out the open window: “Vroooooom!!!! Vrooooommm!”

It would only be right if yours made fighter jet sounds.

[whatsthetime?]

Originally Posted by donas

I guess that is dependent on state law. In SC, pedestrians have the right away only in crosswalks and on sidewalks. In all the auto/pedestrian collisions I have worked, very rarely is the vehicle operator at fault - almost never.

I should've stated this is the law in the state of NY.
Drivers here will literally run you down whether you have the right of way or not. They're too busy looking at their phones instead of the road and are in a big rush to get to the next light, as well as thinking they have the right of way, not the pedestrian. I live in Staten Island and every other day there is a pedestrian getting injured or killed by a car, and most are hit and runs.

[donas]

Originally Posted by whatsthetime?

I should've stated this is the law in the state of NY.
Drivers here will literally run you down whether you have the right of way or not. They're too busy looking at their phones instead of the road and are in a big rush to get to the next light, as well as thinking they have the right of way, not the pedestrian. I live in Staten Island and every other day there is a pedestrian getting injured or killed by a car, and most are hit and runs.

Hit and runs are the worst, just sickening. In all honesty, that is when I've seen drivers most often charged. If they had just stayed at the scene, it wasn't even their fault.

.... Well, I got in the weeds from the original topic- sorry OP

[whatsthetime?]

Originally Posted by donas

Hit and runs are the worst, just sickening. In all honesty, that is when I've seen drivers most often charged. If they had just stayed at the scene, it wasn't even their fault.

.... Well, I got in the weeds from the original topic- sorry OP

[77T]

For the cases mentioned here, a little tip to avoid this issue in the near term (until EV regs. mandate motion sounds). Always back into parking spaces - or alternatively - pull through so your front bumper is facing traffic lane. You’re protected.

Second hint: always walk facing the travel lane in parking lots. In US, the left lane - in UK, the right lane.



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[TK-710]

Originally Posted by whatsthetime?

Pedestians have the right of way no matter what, so the drivers of these EV's need to be more aware and realize they are not heard. With that being said, I do agree that pedestrians also have to have more awareness as well. E-bikes are a big issue these days as well.

Under state law in New York pedestrians do not have the right of way “no matter what.” Often but not no matter what. The Vehicle and traffic law clearly spells out when pedestrians have the right of way. There are duties and responsibilities of pedestrians as well. I agree with another poster in that many of the car pedestrian accidents I’ve been to the pedestrian was at fault or contributed to the accident by making the same assumption that they had the right of way “no matter what” simply by being a pedestrian.

https://www.ny.gov/pedestrian-safety...al-information