[Missouri-l] Hybrid Cars' Musings

[kcagape at aol.com]

I have been thinking about the issue some of you have that hybrid cars  
create no noise, and are so quiet, you are not aware they are coming.   There a 
couple of things I am curious about, and please set me straight  because 
isn't the purpose of a hybrid to be quiet in the first place?
 
When I worked for the Army as a civilian, I recall they were in the process 
 of making a device that could be worn to hear the "signature" or the sound 
of an  approaching vehicle.  Of what I understood, the device was not  
cumbersome.  Perhaps this device has been perfected and be worn  by the general 
(blind and low vision) public to alert when a vehicle is  coming when it 
can't be seen?
 
Here is another concept.  Since many visually impaired people use  canes or 
service animals, make it the law to have drivers honk at the  pedestrian 
who is visually impaired because the cane or service animal will  serve as an 
"identifier," and the driver will know they are approaching someone  with a 
visual impairment.  I understand this might startle the service  animal, but 
would you rather be safe than hit or killed?  By honking, this  would 
eliminate having constant noise device on a hybrid.  Drivers I  observe are 
extremely conscientious about pedestrians who are blind or have low  vision, or 
any other pedestrian who might be in harm's way.  It is part of  the driving 
experience to watch where you are driving, not just the other  drivers, but 
other potential hazards, including people.  
 
I suspect some of us in the so-called blind community don't give sighted  
people credit in terms of how they - those who are not visually impaired  - 
relate to us, and vice versa.  I am not "selling out" to the  so-called 
sighted world, because I am cognizant of both sides of this  argument since I 
have quite a bit of eyesight, yet I am still  considered to be legally blind. 
 
I am not suggesting I am against hybrids that make some noise because I  
don't care one way or the other since this issue doesn't impact me, although I 
 do know several people who are blind or have low vision, and am concerned  
about their safety.
 
Scott
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