Blind Advocacy Group Says Nissan Leaf EV Pedestrian Warning System Flawed
By John O'Dell June 18, 2010
Sometimes you just can't win.
Nissan Leaf will be equipped with pedestrian warning sound system that driver can turn off.
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In the U.S., the matter has been taken up by Congress - meaning it could take a few years and a couple billion in election campaign contributions to get anything meaningful accomplished.
The Japanese and Europeans also have recognized the problem and started working on a solution.
Meantime Nissan is getting ready to launch the first mass-produced modern EV and, hoping to avoid criticism, recently unveiled a pedestrian warning system, or, as the automaker calls it, the "Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians," that it says will be standard equipment on the car even though there is no U.S. regulation requiring it.
Basically, the Leaf begins broadcasting a soft, siren-like noise as it slows, or accelerates from a dead stop, so that people in crosswalks, on sidewalks, walking or riding bicycles in or near the streets or otherwise vulnerable and close to the car, can hear it coming. the noise is only present as speeds below 20 mph.
The system also generates a noise when the Leaf backs up - much like the intermittent beeping noise already familiar on most trucks.
The National Federation of the Blind says thanks, but it's not enough.
The group is unhappy that Nissan included a switch that allows the driver to turn the system off.
It also said in a statement that while the noise generated when the car is moving forward is sufficient to warn the sight impaired of the vehicle's presence nearby, the back-up beep should be continuous rather than intermittent.
The Leaf - and other silent-running electric drive vehicles- also ought to make noise when standing still - it would be called idling if they had gas engines that idled - so people approaching intersections would know the car was out there, ready to move forward when the light changed (and those in parking lots would know it was backing up, etc.)
Effectively, the Federation of the Blind wants EVs to make noise all the time they are in use.
Nissan's not alone. Other automakers also are working on pedestrian warning systems for quiet electric-drive vehicles - as shown by this General Motors photo taken during a test with the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid in November.
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The default position in "on," he told the paper, so the drive "has to make a decision each time to turn it off. The switch is there to balance the needs of drivers and pedestrians," Perry said, adding that the company believes most drivers will leave the system on because it can't be heard from inside the car so won't even be noticed by them.
The difference of opinion is why, the Federation of the Blind insists, there needs to be a single unified national standards for EV noise makers, one that "provides that the sound system must no be driver-activated and that it must continue at all times when the vehicle is operating."
Hmmm. Wonder how that will play out in hospital and other low-noise zones?
Perhaps the answer is a noise generator that mimics the sounds of a regular gasoline engine, right down to the rumble from the tailpipes that the EV also is missing.
John O'Dell, Senior Editor
LEAVE A COMMENT
Click here to comment on this entry."The group is unhappy that Nissan included a switch that allows the driver to turn the system off."
I'm unhappy I'd have to turn it off every time I start the car. I guess we're both unhappy.
"the back-up beep should be continuous rather than intermittent."
Huh? It's not like there's a big delay between beeps.
It's not like EVs are dead silent when moving. They do make some noise at low speeds (a lot more at high speeds).
Also, what about some of the quieter ICE cars? There are some ICE vehicles that have near silent engines when not under hard acceleration. I'm sure they want noisemakers on those too.
Let's do this. Let's have the blind walk around with little doppler radars. Then they'll also know if the car is getting closer or further.
Hooray... Time to cancel all EV production. Back to real cars.
Why on earth is the government getting involved? Whenever they do, bad things happen.
WTF is this.... minority rule? Why do 99.7% of the population have to go out of their way to cater to 0.3% of the population?
The most obvious (and cheap) solution is to make it law that all legally blind people are required to wear Dayglow safety vests at all times while within 100m of any public road.
We DO NOT have to adapt every single vehicle on the planet to cater for disabled people! That's just F^&king ridiculous!
This whole subject is sponsored by the oil/coal/other lobby hiding behind the do-gooder Blind association.
Kudos to Nissan! I think they found a good compromise in this solution. I think being able to disable the system is essential. A perfect case is when you're driving at night in a campground. However, I also agree it should be enable by default, otherwise it's useless. A system like this doesn't only protect the blind, because fully-abled people often don't look properly either. I'm a big proponent of quieter streets, but this will be a good thing overall for everyone.
You know... if we as a nation were better drivers AND better pedestrians, this would be a moot point.
Better drivers = Paying more attention to the road and obstacles rather than ipod and cell phone
Better pedestrians = all of the above plus no jaywalking
If they designed the car so the buzzer noise could not be turned off, i'll just find the speaker and cut the wire..., or just pull the fuse..., EVs are better without noise.
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