[ybbiz34]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_te...incorrect.html

Sorry, EU folks.

Honestly it reads like science fiction.

"Due to a new ruling in the European Parliament, electric auto makers will be forced to add artificial sound to vehicles sold in Europe by 2019."

"Due to a fear that mouse-quiet electric cars will be a danger to pedestrians — specifically those who are visually impaired — the European Parliament recently ruled that by July 1, 2019, all new electric cars in Europe must be outfitted with Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (ACAS) devices. Basically, the devices will replicate the sounds of combustion engines, with the exact specifications of them to be decided by 2017. The ruling is expected be affirmed by the European Council, making it law."

[Sylon]

"...will replicate the sounds of a combustion engines", that's a bummer.

I was hoping for this sound.

[pmeloche]

Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (ACAS), aka a horn.

[-Wingman-]

I could see car companies exploiting this to make money.

Salesman:"would like the standard sound, or how about we upgrade you to 'Ferrari v12 sound for 500 bucks. For an additional 200 bucks, we can add a supercharger sound as well."

[Efthreeoh]

Kind of like Braille on ATM machines...

[KingOfJericho]

Aren't bicycles already silent?

[Lups]

We live in a Prius infested street, and I have to say, that it annoys the hell out of me. After 31 years of using my ears, now one has to add using eyes also before crossing the street. Hard work.

I do understand this law, but could they just ban all of those hideous things all together, the sound won't make the scenery any nicer.

First they take away the V8's and now they do this. I'm never going back to Europe.

[kyleb350]

I feel like there could be a better solution than to add more noise. This will be one more thing that bothers me about hybrids.

[Lups]

Well, as long as the batteries are probably the most dangerous thing sold in the EU, and as long as the buyers have that smug look on their faces, I'm holding on to my view.
And I must ad, I don't understand the logic of the owners. I've had many of them explaining to me how many miles they can do with it, and that they don't need gas at all, and if you even try to ask the owner, how that could be possible even in their imaginations, you get the blank stare.

As far as I understand, if the husband pumps the gas, its good for the globe, if you have to do it yourself, then it's actual fuel added to a car. I have to stop talking to women all together, it's way too confusing.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Aren't bicycles already silent?

For now....

Soon enough they'll sound like large V8 powered sports cars.

[PINeely]

I got hit by a car because of this once, it was one of those electric Prius taxis in Florence, Italy. You really cannot hear them coming. Ordinarily you can look but in a city like that with small streets and sharp turns you'll round the corner and be face to face with one, and we all know how the Italians drive.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by PINeely

I got hit by a car because of this once, it was one of those electric Prius taxis in Florence, Italy. You really cannot hear them coming. Ordinarily you can look but in a city like that with small streets and sharp turns you'll round the corner and be face to face with one, and we all know how the Italians drive.

And let's not forget the lights that are turned off. That makes a killer combination.

[son_of_siggy]

We really need to focus on the behavior of people, rather than continually inventing new ways to crutch stupidity. I understand the argument that it could assist blind pedestrians, but the onus is still on the driver to pay attention to pedestrians.

I've been to Florence, and a few other italian cities, and agree that they're compact, narrow, and the drivers are insane. That said, if you're walking out of blind corners purely on the assurance of sound, you're asking to be hit by a silent car, cart, bicycle, etc.

[Lups]

[QUOTE=son_of_siggy;15758922]We really need to focus on the behavior of people, rather than continually inventing new ways to crutch stupidity. I understand the argument that it could assist blind pedestrians, but the onus is still on the driver to pay attention to pedestrians.

School zones. I do understand and support keeping kids safe, but one day they will be adults! Come on, it takes 2 people to stop the traffic while a kid crosses a road! Why, oh why can't kids be instructed to take charge of their own safety, and make them look left and right.

I'm not even going to suggest that we would take the guards away, but how about adding just a little common sense in this thing?

EU is trying very hard to mess with the car industry, and tough progress is usually something to support, this whole eco car thing is way out of hand there. It's always funny to see a Prius stuck in Finland, the owners never seem to bother to understand, that we have winters. WEll, at least they are not driving over people that way.

[fecurtis]

I think most of it has to do not with the fact that they're quiet, but primarily because many Prius drivers are just naturally horrible drivers.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

I think most of it has to do not with the fact that they're quiet, but primarily because many Prius drivers are just naturally horrible drivers.

When I become the dictator of the universe, that's the second thing I will ban.

[E39M235i]

What is going on in the world I would request the V12 F1 motor sound what a wonderful sound coming out of the tunnel in Monaco or through Eau Rouge, the current F1 cars sound like NASCAR what a sad state F1 is in soon they will be hybrid's with fake sound...

[ybbiz34]

One thing technology won't help is how many "seeing" people walk across heavily trafficked downtown roads with headphones on or ear buds in.

These people are just asking to get tagged.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by ybbiz34

One thing technology won't help is how many "seeing" people walk across heavily trafficked downtown roads with headphones on or ear buds in.

These people are just asking to get tagged.

Yes. I think EU has been a great thing for Europe, but some of the things they come up with are amazingly idiotic. Only the sound of an ice cream truck would make prius even less attractive to me, but I will end up in jail, if my neighbors instal that kind of noise waste things in their cars.

18 houses, 11 priuses on this street. One Amg merc, one Porsche, and soon my toy, and all the good pieces are driven by women.

[biz77]

Originally Posted by Sylon

"...will replicate the sounds of a combustion engines", that's a bummer.

I was hoping for this sound.

+1.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Lups

When I become the dictator of the universe, that's the second thing I will ban.

Okay, I'll bite, what's the first?

[Efthreeoh]

So in all seriousness, this is just more liberal BS where people don't have to take responsibility for themselves. If you don't want to get hit by a car then watch where f you are going.