Too Quiet For Our Own Good

Not everyone believes environmentally friendly design is a good thing. The latest reason to oppose hybrid technology cars was shared in a news article today: hybrid cars are too quiet for blind pedestrians to hear, so they fear being hit by the cars.

I worked hard not to laugh hysterically.

My office is located just a few blocks from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSVBI). We have gotten used to seeing people in dark glasses or blindfolds walking in the middle of the street with canes. Judging by the reactions they have to the cars honking at them, they are as hearing impaired as they are visually impaired.

So the idea that certain cars are too quiet for them falls on, at least my, deaf ears.