GM’s electric cars to get sound alert system to warn blind pedestrians
30 Nov 2009
In cooperation with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Chevrolet and General Motors are working to identify a safe level of sound alerting the blind and other pedestrians to the presence of near silent-running electric and hybrid vehicles.
To get an idea of the safety needs of pedestrians with respect to quiet vehicles and to work on solutions for the benefit of pedestrians, cyclists, runners, children and other members of the public, members of the National Federation of the Blind and engineers from GM began meeting earlier this year. Several NFB members recently experienced a demonstration of the pedestrian warning alert on a pre-production Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle driven at various speeds by chief engineer Andrew Farah and evaluated the alert from the front, sides and rear of the car.
"We have significant background in the area of pedestrian alerts dating to our work on our first electric car, the EV1," Farah said, "The most important thing is to listen to the people who will interact with these vehicles in everyday life."
According to Deborah Kent Stein, who chairs the NFB's Committee on Automobile and Pedestrian Safety, a recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) demonstrated that the silent operation of hybrid vehicles is an issue for all pedestrians, not just the blind." Electric or hybrid vehicles were twice as likely to be involved in collisions with pedestrians. "The NFB looks forward to working with the safety agency in the crafting of appropriate standards establishing an acceptable level of minimum vehicle sound", she added.
"The National Federation of the Blind appreciates the opportunity to work with General Motors on this problem," said Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind. "We urge all automobile manufacturers to work with the blind in designing vehicle sounds to alert us to the approach, speed and direction of vehicles so that both drivers and pedestrians can safely use America's roadways.