Japan considers adding noise to hybrid cars
It's been talked up before, but the transport ministry in Japan is currently seriously considering forcing car manufacturers of near-silent hybrid vehicles to add sound to their motors.
"We have received opinions from automobile users and visually-impaired people that they feel hybrid vehicles are dangerous", a transport ministry official told the AP.
"Blind people depend on sounds when they walk, but there are no engine sounds from hybrid vehicles when running at low speed".
A panel of experts including the police and groups representing the visually-impaired have met to discuss the matter and, after the first meeting, decided that a "sound-making function" should be introduced.
This would mean hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius, would be manufactured to create noise when in electric mode.
"We have received opinions from automobile users and visually-impaired people that they feel hybrid vehicles are dangerous", a transport ministry official told the AP.
"Blind people depend on sounds when they walk, but there are no engine sounds from hybrid vehicles when running at low speed".
A panel of experts including the police and groups representing the visually-impaired have met to discuss the matter and, after the first meeting, decided that a "sound-making function" should be introduced.
This would mean hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius, would be manufactured to create noise when in electric mode.