You can’t look at any automotive blog lately without reading the praises of hybrids. In fact, some even treat it as sacrilege if you say something negative about these new vehicles. But that’s okay with me. I’m not a big fan of hybrids and I don’t mind saying it.
One of the reasons why I don’t like hybrids is because they’re too quiet. This story talks about a mom blaming a hybrid’s quietness for her son’s death. I think that’s a little extreme, but it does point to a type of danger that hybrids cause. Her argument was that her eight-year-old son rode his bike into the middle of the street because he couldn’t hear any cars coming. Unfortunately, a Prius was right there and it hit the kid before it had a chance to stop.
I’m not so sure the hybrid can be blamed for that incident. But with their quiet nature, many people are concerned for pedestrian safety. For instance, members of the National Federation of the Blind are concerned that blind pedestrians may be in more danger due to the lack of noise. They are trying to convince lawmakers in Maryland to pass guidelines calling for a minimum level of noise on vehicles.
In addition to that, the House of Representatives is studying the effects of these quiet cars and how sound adds to pedestrian safety.
I’m sure we’re still going to hear more about this argument from both sides. But you can avoid this problem by getting a good ol’ full-size truck from your local GMC truck dealer. You’re sure to hear the roar of the engine when one of those monsters is going down the road. Who knew you were contributing to public safety when you’re driving a big truck?
