National Federation of the Blind

Committee on Automobile and Pedestrian Safety⁄Quiet Cars

Welcome to the Quiet Cars webpage sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). This page was created in response to concerns among pedestrians, especially pedestrians who are blind, about the growing trend for automobile manufacturers to design extremely quiet vehicles. These vehicles pose a hazard to pedestrians and cyclists, who need to be aware of approaching cars that are out of their line of sight. Children and seniors are likely to be most vulnerable. Quiet vehicles are highly problematic for blind pedestrians, who depend on the sound emitted by cars in order to travel safely and independently.

We all benefit from a less noisy environment, and we applaud the efforts of the automotive industry to control noise pollution. However, we feel strongly that the industry must take measures to insure the safety of blind and sighted pedestrians. We believe that vehicles can be designed to emit an inoffensive sound that will give pedestrians the information they need. We call upon the automotive industry to work with the NFB and other concerned organizations to develop a solution to the pedestrian-safety problems which quiet cars create.

On this page you will find links to published articles about quiet cars and pedestrian safety. You can also read resolutions about quiet cars that have been passed by the NFB and other organizations. We will post news of relevant research and of policy within the auto industry and the government. Finally, we offer a place where you can describe your experiences dealing with quiet cars and share your ideas on how these vehicles can be made pedestrian-safe. We are eager to hear from you.

As they become more and more prevalent, quiet cars will compromise the safety of millions of people throughout the world. By working together concerned citizens can address the problems posed by these vehicles and move toward viable solutions.

From NFB Websites:

Articles on the Web:

the next set of links will take you away from this page to other articles on the subject of "Quiet Cars".

The next four links were provided by: DisabilityNation, an Audio Magazine by and for People with Disabilities. Listen at Disability Nation

Quiet Cars and the Pedestrian Problem Part I

     Dial-up:

Quiet Cars and the Pedestrian Problem Part II

     Broadband links:

the lead person in Acoustic Research and the Quiet Cars/Hybrid Car Dr. Lawrence D. Rosenblum's Homepage

A website devoted to experimenting with sound perception and the "Quiet Car/Hybrid Car". Audiovisual speech Web-Lab

THE FOLLOWING LINK IS THE RESULT OF RESEARCH AND THE FORMATION OF Enhanced Vehicle Acoustics

The following link was sent to us as another source of development to resolve the concerns of Quiet Cars/Hybrids.
Step-Hear

Join the Mailing List:

A Public mailing list on "Quiet Cars" has been started. You can join the list in several different ways--the first is by going to the QuietCars Info Page

Or, Subscribe using your favorite e-mail program to: Subscribe to Quiet Cars. the e-mail address and subject fields are already filled in for you, just send it as a blank message.

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Committee Members:

Deborah Kent Stein, NFB-CAPS Chair
E-mail: Deborah Kent Stein, Chair