• Tankiedesantski [he/him]45•7 months ago

    If you can't be muscle, be silent is my take on electric cars

    Well, silent electric cars are kind of a menace from a pedestrian safety perspective. They should make some noise on the outside at least.

    • @gramathy@lemmy.ml16•7 months ago

      White noise at an audible level is a significant improvement over the noise pollution of ICE vehicles (though small commuter cars do tend to be relatively quiet)

    • @MeowZedong@lemmygrad.ml16•7 months ago

      All cars are a menace from any perspective but that of the car.

      The only time electric cars make too little noise to hear is when they are driving at speeds that aren't guaranteed to kill you. After about 30mph/50kph, the vast majority of sound comes from the tires unless you drive one of those horrendously loud trucks or motorcycles.

      Muscle cars are cool at car shows, but not passing through neighborhoods or areas where people are trying to enjoy talking outdoors.

      • Helmic [he/him]9•7 months ago

        30 mph is about hte speed limit in school zones where a kid is most likely to get hit by a car to begin with, though. Or where the assumption that cars make noise has lead to inane road layouts where parked vehicles or shubbery obscure oncoming traffic.

        • @MeowZedong@lemmygrad.ml3•7 months ago

          Absolutely. I think the main issue has been with electric vehicles backing up?

          Either way, I'm vehemently anticar, so I just want to beat the "Trains, Bikes, Buses, and Better Urban Planning" drum. Trying my damnedest to replace all of my driving with biking has actually had a great impact on my life aside from the cost savings and health benefits. Biking is enjoyable for me while driving is stressful. Granted, I understand this isn't viable for everyone within the current infrastructure of most US cities. The US just needs to do better...on every front. :)

      • Owl [he/him]7•7 months ago

        Programming my car to use GPS to figure out what the most prominent large predator is in the area so it can play appropriate animal-spooking sounds.