SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the fake-engine-noises-FTW-Vrrrm-Vrrrm! dept.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the rule was needed because battery-powered vehicles are very quiet.
It said the rule would particularly help blind pedestrians, or those with a visual impairment, detect electric cars and hybrids on the road.
The new safety rule could help prevent 2,400 injuries a year, said the NHTSA.
The rule demands that the cars make a noise when travelling either forwards or backwards at speeds of less than 30kmh (19mph). The regulation covers vehicles with four wheels that weigh less than 10,000 pounds (4.5 tonnes).
The safety specification requires car makers to use a two-tone signal similar to that currently emitted by heavy vehicles when they are reversing.
It would be more fun if drivers could customize what that sound is, such as "La Cucaracha" or the whine of a Shadow vessel.
Electric and hybrid cars are to include a noise generation device for travel at low speeds with no internal combustion engine: http://www.nhtsa.gov/About-NHTSA/Press-Releases/nhtsa_quiet_car_final_rule_11142016.
There goes my quiet electric future.
(Score: 2) by fritsd on Wednesday November 16 2016, @05:25PM
When I was young I was allowed to visit Rome.
Chock full of stinking cars standing still or driving in slow traffic.
Every single one of them honking, to prove that they hadn't fallen asleep, or that their claxon still worked, or that they were proud Italians, or something.
(Score: 4, Funny) by DannyB on Wednesday November 16 2016, @08:14PM
Honking.
That reminds me.
What is the shortest interval of time?
If you guessed the planck time you would be wrong. (Planck time == time at speed of light to traverse the planck length.) The shortest interval of time is that which occurs between the light turning green and a Boston cab driver honking the horn at the car in front of it.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 2) by AthanasiusKircher on Wednesday November 16 2016, @08:14PM
Ah, yes, the glories of Roman traffic. Vespas everywhere scurrying between stopped cars like ants, clogging up the roads so ambulances can't even get through. (Piece of advice: don't become ill while in Rome and require an ambulance -- it will take you forever to get to a hospital, since no one gets out the way.)
Anyhow, yeah -- the horns. Amazing stuff. I still remember my favorite aspect of Roman honking: the tendency to "hold a grudge" on a driver and continue to honk at him long after the precipitating incident. In the US, people sometimes honk out of anger, and they might even lay on the horn for a couple seconds if they're annoyed or you're in their way. And maybe the other guy might give a honk back if he's annoyed too. But that's usually the end of it.
In Rome, it's not uncommon at all for such a transaction to take place, and then for the two cars to continue down the street for many blocks afterward exchanging honks at each other. Why? Who knows.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 20 2016, @04:45PM
In the US, people sometimes honk out of anger, and they might even lay on the horn for a couple seconds if they're annoyed or you're in their way. And maybe the other guy might give a honk back if he's annoyed too. But that's usually the end of it.
In Rome, it's not uncommon at all for such a transaction to take place, and then for the two cars to continue down the street for many blocks afterward exchanging honks at each other. Why? Who knows.
Fewer drivers shooting each other to death in Rome?