Complaints about quiet cars
You read the subject correctly. WBAL AM is reporting that the National Federation of the Blind, based here in Baltimore, is picketing outside the offices of the Maryland Department of the Environment today as the MDE considers regulations that would require cars sold in Maryland to meet California emissions standards by 2011.
The reason for the blind activists protest? They think hybrids using battery power are too quiet and, as a result, pose a danger to blind pedestrians. The Federation of the Blind wants state environmental officials to require that hybrid manufacturers make them noisier.
Chris Danielson of the NFB says “he has no statistics” proving the danger, but goes ahead and cites non-specific anecdotal evidence anyway. The Federation claims they were rebuffed by automakers when they requested meetings on this matter.
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[...] Going after hybrid cars now, too. Posted in: Uncategorized Send to a Friend Printer Friendly comments [...]
Pingback by Michelle Malkin » Blind shoppers get green light to sue Target over website — October 3, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
2
I don’t whether to laugh uncontrollably, yell at the stupidity of it all, or just cry.
RLR
Comment by Robert Rhodes — October 3, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
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Can I sue CA for having overly restrictive smog standards, thus preventing me from helping the visually impaired? There’s a really sweet LOUD exhaust kit I want to put on my new Mustang GT.
Comment by WWKW — October 3, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
4
If you had to hear traffic to cross a street, you’d worry, too. Lots of bicyclists are having the same problems. This isn’t about CLEAN cars, they just want some sort of small noise-making accomodation so they can still function in the world. Not such a big deal for us, is it? We’re talking about their entire lives- their ability to leave their homes and get anywhere beyond their own block.
Comment by Kristina — October 9, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
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With all the REAL problems in the world, why do we need activist groups to make up new ones? I agree, it is a concern. However, I will NOT feel guilty about driving my Prius. I have had this car, which I love, for 2 1/2 years, and (knockwood) have not hit anyone with it yet. When driving through parking lots, I’m more concerned about distracted parents, people talking on cell phones or listening to iPods, or generally not paying attention to the world around them. Oh, and other drivers, who decide it is easier to take a short-cut through empty parking spaces to get where they are going. These people are more of a danger to anyone walking, than me in my Prius!
Comment by Paige — October 21, 2007 @ 11:06 am
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This issue is almost comical in nature. So now we should never be allowed to have any vehicle that doesn’t make noise from here until the end of eternity so the blind can hear them??? Again, they are the extreme minority. Rather than force hundreds of millions to adjust to the needs of thousands, why don’t we just require blind people to carry devices that can detect the proximity and direction of moving metal objects. There’s your noisemaker! Give me a break!
Comment by Mark C. Lowe — December 19, 2007 @ 7:46 pm
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[...] previously posted here about the National Federation of the Blind picketing outside a Maryland Dept. of the Environment meeting last fall that was looking at adopting California emissions standards by 2011. The protesters were [...]
Pingback by Mandating that cars make noise? — February 19, 2008 @ 11:05 pm
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We all try to go green and the government have a go at the hybrid now.
Oh this world is a funny place.
Comment by Dave — March 11, 2008 @ 3:12 am
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With all the idiots driving extremely noisy motorcycles and muscle cars, trucks with air brakes, dirt bikes and ATVS, we’re all going deaf from motor noise. We’re desperate for less noisy cars. There are laws in MD to enforce excessive vehicle noise but the police have no equipment to enforce them, and even less interest. Live on a busy road and you will soon go deaf from car noise that is constant, repetitive and far in excess of the level that contributes to auditory damage. We’re going deaf from noise and living in extreme stress from it. We’re DESPERATE for a quiet environment. Our society thinks it is okay to spend billions on traffic noise barriers on the beltway, but does nothing to prevent people from driving a damaging noisy vehicle. There is not one dime spent to enforce the existing laws. The idea of deliberately making cars noisy to the general populace is ridiculous. Have some sort of personal signalling system, vibrator, whatever, that sends an impulse to a blind person, but please spare society from more road noise or from legislating cars to BE noisy. We’re trying to get legislators interested in quiet roads and quiet communities, in returning to the idea of having the right to a peaceful enjoyment of one’s home and property. Noise is stressful and damaging, not desirable.
Comment by Pat Foley — September 1, 2008 @ 8:28 pm
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Don’t sweat it. It’s just conditioning.
Comment by philetus — February 9, 2009 @ 7:56 pm
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[...] Complaints about quiet cars Posted by root 30 minutes ago (http://insidecharmcity.com) Oct 3 2007 comment by paige with all the real problems in the world 3column seo wordpress theme by easywebtutorials com powered by wordpress Discuss | Bury | News | Complaints about quiet cars [...]
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