Noise Makers

[Morris Minor]

I was standing by the car in a supermarket parking lot on Sunday waiting for my wife (I'm too crippled to walk round a grocery store.)

I was probably there for a good 10 minutes. The most egregious thing (apart from people's pathetic efforts reversing out of spaces) was the racket from Honda hybrids, Toyota hybrids, and Teslas as they wound their way through the lot. Howling and whining like small animals being slowly crushed.

Noise pollution mandated by well-intentioned, clueless, zero-accountability apparatchiks.

[Rich]

[FoMoJo]

I was parked at the local park waiting for young Elliot and Nani (my wife), bad hip gives me a good excuse to just sit in the car and listen to the radio, when a noise sounding like something from a graveyard horror show started up beside me.  It was a large import EV SUV, that I took to be a Hyundai of some sort, backing out of the parking spot beside me.  Loud,  unpleasant, gruesome noise.

[r0tor]

It's a requirement for EVs (and others) under 20mph to make external sounds to alert pedestrians.

Drives me a bit nuts in our Jeep because it is audible inside the cabin

[Morris Minor]

When we were in a hotel in NZ I was woken up at 4:30a by a fellow guest backing out to catch an early flight. It was a hybrid Kia Sorrento because I'd remember it being parked next to us. 

I don't hear gassers backing out at 4:30a, why the noise pollution from EVs? 

[Laconian]

I was parked at the local park waiting for young Elliot and Nani (my wife), bad hip gives me a good excuse to just sit in the car and listen to the radio, when a noise sounding like something from a graveyard horror show started up beside me.  It was a large import EV SUV, that I took to be a Hyundai of some sort, backing out of the parking spot beside me.  Loud,  unpleasant, gruesome noise.

Teslas sound like Scooby Doo ghosts in reverse.

Kias and Hyundais beep in reverse.

[AutobahnSHO]

I don't hear gassers backing out at 4:30a, why the noise pollution from EVs?

This.

[veeman]

While I dislike the beeping and other noises from EVs when they reverse and other noises they make at slow speeds, it's a necessary evil I think. People, especially kids, get run over in driveways and parking lots and drivers are inattentive. An ICE car you can hear at slow speed and so subconsciously you're aware of it. The Kia EV6 external slow speed sounds pretty cool I think. The rear beeping sound is annoying.

The Congressional Act that started the process for requiring an alert sound on hybrids and EVs (Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010) was unanimously approved by the Senate and passed the House by a huge majority so it wasn't controversial.

[FoMoJo]

My car only beeps on the inside, and only when it "sees" something moving or in the way.

[Morris Minor]

While I dislike the beeping and other noises from EVs when they reverse and other noises they make at slow speeds, it's a necessary evil I think. People, especially kids, get run over in driveways and parking lots and drivers are inattentive. An ICE car you can hear at slow speed and so subconsciously you're aware of it. The Kia EV6 external slow speed sounds pretty cool I think. The rear beeping sound is annoying.

The Congressional Act that started the process for requiring an alert sound on hybrids and EVs (Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010) was unanimously approved by the Senate and passed the House by a huge majority so it wasn't controversial.

What is controversial is the dead-behind-the-eyes implementation of the act.

[MrH]

Lots of people unplug the Lightning rear beeper speaker.  It's pretty obnoxious.  The truck is so insulated though, I barely hear it.  Whenever I have the window down all I can think is "This is what I sound like backing up?!"

All I can think of with this thread is that scene from The Office where Andy pins Dwight with his prius into the bushes

[565]

I once took care of a kid who was badly injured because his own mom backed up and ran him over.

Before the operation I couldn't even get a consent out of her because she couldn't stop uncontrollably sobbing out of guilt, had to call the father.

[Morris Minor]

Vehicles have had backup cameras since 2018, and many have sensors that go nuts if people or crossing vehicles are detected. I don't advocate for silence, I advocate for something less obnoxious. If these save so many lives, why aren't they mandated on gas cars?

[giant_mtb]

If these save so many lives, why aren't they mandated on gas cars?

Because gas cars already make noise at both ends.  Yes, modern exhausts on most cars are pretty damn quiet, but the ambient engine noise from the front end is also bouncing off the ground and the cars parked next to it such that you can also hear it from behind.

At least if something is making some sort of noise at either end, you are aware that it is on/running and has a potential to move, whereas if something is completely silent, you don't think twice about walking in front of or behind it because you know that it's off/not in gear.

[FoMoJo]

Vehicles have had backup cameras since 2018, and many have sensors that go nuts if people or crossing vehicles are detected. I don't advocate for silence, I advocate for something less obnoxious. If these save so many lives, why aren't they mandated on gas cars?

It makes sense that a vehicle alert the driver if someone is in the way when they're backing up rather than making a noise in order to shoo people out of the way, especially if the people can't move fast enough to get out of the way.

[giant_mtb]

It makes sense that a vehicle alert the driver if someone is in the way when they're backing up rather than making a noise in order to shoo people out of the way, especially if the people can't move fast enough to get out of the way.

Dude, some people drive like complete maniacs in parking lots with blatant disregard.

[FoMoJo]

Because gas cars already make noise at both ends.  Yes, modern exhausts on most cars are pretty damn quiet, but the ambient engine noise from the front end is also bouncing off the ground and the cars parked next to it such that you can also hear it from behind.

At least if something is making some sort of noise at either end, you are aware that it is on/running and has a potential to move, whereas if something is completely silent, you don't think twice about walking in front of or behind it because you know that it's off/not in gear.

The may work well for most people, but people with some hearing impairment, most old people, won't hear those engine or soft exhaust noises, especially if there are other vehicles running in the immediate area.  Not that I believe backup noises, dinging, whistles or spooky sounds all that necessary.
 
Interior alarms notifying the driver that there is a movement or obstacle in close proximity makes more sense.  Is that mandated?

[FoMoJo]

Dude, some people drive like complete maniacs in parking lots with blatant disregard.

That is true, but if an alarm goes off inside the vehicle when backing the first reaction, for most people, is to hit the brakes.

[giant_mtb]

The may work well for most people, but people with some hearing impairment, most old people, won't hear those engine or soft exhaust noises, especially if there are other vehicles running in the immediate area.  Not that I believe backup noises, dinging, whistles or spooky sounds all that necessary.
 
Interior alarms notifying the driver that there is a movement or obstacle in close proximity makes more sense.  Is that mandated?

I'd agree that an alarm for the driver makes more sense. And no, I do not believe they're mandated. Plenty of vehicles do not come stock with proximity sensors...my '22 Tacoma didn't (and I am glad for that because they can be incredibly annoying in the woods or when they get covered in snow and start beeping over nothing).

[FoMoJo]

I'd agree that an alarm for the driver makes more sense. And no, I do not believe they're mandated. Plenty of vehicles do not come stock with proximity sensors...my '22 Tacoma didn't (and I am glad for that because they can be incredibly annoying in the woods or when they get covered in snow and start beeping over nothing).

When first getting our 2017 Discovery Sport, I didn't realize that it had these alarms, but now I glad that it does.  When backing out of a parking spot, especially if wedged between a couple of pickups or SUVs where it's almost impossible to see anything or anyone approaching.  My habit now is to slowly ease the back of the car out and, if anyone is approaching, from either side, it will start beeping, which happens quite often at the local supermarkets.

[giant_mtb]

When first getting our 2017 Discovery Sport, I didn't realize that it had these alarms, but now I glad that it does.  When backing out of a parking spot, especially if wedged between a couple of pickups or SUVs where it's almost impossible to see anything or anyone approaching.  My habit now is to slowly ease the back of the car out and, if anyone is approaching, from either side, it will start beeping, which happens quite often at the local supermarkets.

Yeah. Gone are the days when beltlines were low and glass space was aplenty and you could easily see around yourself and through other vehicles. Ubiquitous factory window tint on all rear windows makes it even more of a block.

[AutobahnSHO]

I once took care of a kid who was badly injured because his own mom backed up and ran him over.

Before the operation I couldn't even get a consent out of her because she couldn't stop uncontrollably sobbing out of guilt, had to call the father.

Kid in my neighborhood got killed by his father same way. They got divorced after a year or two.

[AutobahnSHO]

If these save so many lives, why aren't they mandated on gas cars?

YES

[veeman]

Vehicles have had backup cameras since 2018, and many have sensors that go nuts if people or crossing vehicles are detected. I don't advocate for silence, I advocate for something less obnoxious. If these save so many lives, why aren't they mandated on gas cars?

Should be mandated as well as cross over mirrors in front of big trucks that let them see what's directly in front of the vehicle. These cross over mirrors have been required in NYC for commercial trucks for a while.

I dunno the volume that should be required for the reverse beeping sounds. They're annoying if too loud and waking up neighbors on a quiet street is too loud.