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Original poster

I nearly got run over by a fucking hybrid car

137 replies

Rapidmama · 26/08/2019 22:35

The bloody bastard things don’t make ANY noise.

Camping this weekend, no cars on site so I wasn’t expecting to see one. Walked out between two lines of tents and the fucking thing was almost on top of me. Stupid woman driving it could barely see over the steering wheel and carried on driving. I jumped back out of the way and banged on the bonnet. She drove for about 10 meters before another camper stopped her and said WTF you nearly ran her over. She was completely non plussed. Any normal car I would have heard coming.

How the hell do blind people cross the road when one of these things could be on top of them ffs?!

OP posts:
FermatsTheorem · 27/08/2019 09:58

I nearly got run over in our local supermarket carpark. I was walking along the line of parked cars with my shopping when some muppet started to reverse without looking. Didn't hear a thing, just caught a glimpse of it in my perirpheral vision. Never mind getting flattened, I nearly had a heart attack, he was so close. Had to jump out of the way. Bloke drove off completely oblivious.

Lexilooo · 27/08/2019 10:24

I'm a horse rider and have met silent cars while riding. My horse can often hear them before me and I realise something is there due to her reaction. These cars are actually quieter than bikes so they are a real issue.

When they creep up behind you they generally aren't a safety hazard but may find that they are delayed as the rider doesn't notice them immediately and pull over. The biggest risk is one coming round a blind bend towards you, with normal cars I can hear them coming and wait but a silent car I can't. They are quiet enough that a hedge or bank completely muffles the low road noise you normally get.

A horn shouldn't be used around a horse as it will startle them. A human voice is a safe way to make your presence known but not very practical for car drivers. I do like the idea of the car making a noise like a bike with those spokey dokey things, that is the sort of not to loud but constant sound that wouldn't startle a horse but would alert humans to the car's presence.

AdobeWanKenobi · 27/08/2019 10:52

Our Hybrid has the option of engine noise. We don't use it because part of the joy of an electric car is the wonderful silence.

Hugless · 27/08/2019 10:59

Stop, look, listen, think and be aware of your surroundings.

Yes, I drive a hybrid and also cycle whenever possible (hard to tell whats more "fun" in London)

The biggest problem are pedestrians who strongly believe that rules do not apply to them (traffic lights, crossings and so on) and on top are in "zombie mode" (headphones on, mobile surgically attached to their hand). Had a close call recently as a bloke just stepped in front of me on a local 30mph road- I stopped safely- beeped and he looked at me as if he had just woken up... It does get worse when I cycle- especially in the city- majority behave like lemmings on a suicide mission.
Not going to comment on your story OP as it's only told from your point of view, perhaps use your eyes more often...

GaryWilmottsTeeth · 27/08/2019 11:23

I have a hybrid and it does cause problems. I work on a high street in a small coastal tourist town. Lots of tourists think the street is pedestrianised even though it isn't and they don't look at all when they walk out into the road. Or they are wrestling three kids all with spades and buckets full of crabs.

I have to be soooo careful driving up there, every time I do, someone jumps about a foot in the air when they realise I'm right behind them. I'd be so relieved if mine made a noise. If I've got my kids with me, its less of a problem as they can generally hear sodding Let It Go on repeat at deafening volume.

CatherineOfAragonsPrayerBook · 27/08/2019 11:29

Our Hybrid has the option of engine noise. We don't use it because part of the joy of an electric car is the wonderful silence.

Sure. But whilst I can see how nice that would be in rural areas, I think it's irresponsible not to turn it on in suburban city areas.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 27/08/2019 11:31

It's not just pedestrians. Friend's neighbour's cat was killed by a hybrid that it didn't hear.

BottleCrow · 27/08/2019 11:45

To the dog walking PP, you clearly shouldn't be walking on that road - it is too dangerous. Please think of other road users. Drive to somewhere where you are not endangering yourself or others. Very irresponsible.

Kazzyhoward · 27/08/2019 12:08

But for every cyclist who sticks to the rules there’s another one who rides like a pillock, going on pavements & through red lights. They’re the ones who need noises fitted.

No, they're the ones who need prosecuting. Making a noise shouldn't be an excuse for cycling illegally.

Springersrock · 27/08/2019 12:14

As a horse rider I think they are an absolute liability.

My daughter rides and I agree

There’s a bloke with one who lives on the lane where our livery yard is - it doesn’t help that he drives like an idiot in the first place.

DD’s pony is fine with cars/lorries/tractors/etc (even when they pass her too fast and too close) but the electric car does cause problems

A few other riders I know have had issues too

I thought there was talk of adding noise to them

hsegfiugseskufh · 27/08/2019 12:16

I drive a hybrid and I have to stop allllll the time because people walk out in front of me. Its not their fault, you legitimately cannot hear it coming when its in electric mode. Its quite dangerous to be honest!

Also, yes, wildlife. They don't know you're there either.

BeanBag7 · 27/08/2019 12:20

I have an acquaintance who is completely blind, since birth. He has a guide dog but still uses hearing when crossing the road as dogs arent 100% reliable. Silent electric cars are a real danger to him and other blind or partially sighted people.

Moveoverplease · 27/08/2019 12:26

I have a 2017 model hybrid and it has a feature that means it's not silent, even at low speeds, and the noise it emits is quite loud.
It can, however, be turned off so that it becomes silent (not sure why you'd want to though).

wonkylegs · 27/08/2019 12:40

My hybrid has an artificial engine noise when driving at low speeds, at high speeds the noise of the tires on the road is quite loud - I suspect for that very reason.
You can turn the noise off but I only do that when I want to creep down the drive and make DH jump.
I am very conscious that it's a quiet car especially around school as I know the kids aren't always paying attention anyway. I think it would be worse in a campsite as there will be no road noise on grass - as a driver she doesn't sound like she was paying due care and attention.

LollipopViolet · 27/08/2019 12:43

Visually impaired here, not many electric cars round my way, but did travel in one and thought they were eerily quiet. Roll on the law coming in that means they have to emit a noise.

Cyclists on the other hand, I've been frightened by so many whizzing by the side of me (my main condition impacts my peripheral vision) on the pavement. Can't we attach bells to their handlebars??? - - only half joking--

LollipopViolet · 27/08/2019 12:46

Oops, strike out fail there Blush

SayOohLaLa · 27/08/2019 13:20

OP, presuming that this restriction on cars was in place at your campsite to stop idiots like the electric car driver churning up the grass, I trust you asked Reception why she had been given dispensation to drive across the camping field, and she had to get her car shifted?

SudowoodoVoodoo · 27/08/2019 13:26

A driver of a silent or near silent car is at least aware of that and capable of driving it with caution, although that should be default anyway. Even in a car producing standard levels of noise, there are still plenty of muppets obliviously wandering around seemingly unaware that a tonne or so of moving metal has a significant potential for harm.

As well as the plentiful supply of muppets, there are situations were people and animals can't see the potential hazard and hearing it is a vital part of them being made aware of it. Hearing is a subconcious warning.

I live on a long gentle bend and the way the sound carries gives a lot of warning about approaching vehicles and their speed. Although they come into view with sufficient notice, particularly if driving within the speed limit, it is startling when one appears that you hadn't anticipated.

My driving instructor advised me to keep the windows open in the learning/ test/ early stages of driving because sound is such an important warning that frequently precedes visual clues. Anomalous silent vehicles don't trigger people's usual warning and reaction systems, and that's just for those paying some attention!

CornishMaid1 · 27/08/2019 13:32

The older models are near silent (they do make a slight whine). The newer ones will have to have a certain volume of sound to alert pedestrians.

This woman is obviously in the wrong, but people should look. You would be surprised driving one how many people do not look before crossing a road. I have driven slowly down through a carpark following a pedestrian deciding to walk down the middle obviously before they were not looking and didn't hear it. They did jump and laugh when they realised they were being followed quietly.

I do think that most electric car drivers are conscious that it is not very audible and are a lot more alert with pedestrians and wary of them.

Electric cars are such a dream to drive though without that horrid engine noise.

helpmeiamatoad · 27/08/2019 13:34

I recently started driving (in a petrol car) and the amount of people who wander into the road without looking, or who rush across the road thinking they can ‘beat’ my car, is terrifying.

PLEASE! Stop, LOOK, and listen. LOOK!!

squashyhat · 27/08/2019 13:50

You need to peg some tea cards in the wheel spokes like we did with our bikes when we were kids Grin (old gimmer)

SoupDragon · 27/08/2019 13:53

We don't use it because part of the joy of an electric car is the wonderful silence.

Yeah, fuck the safety of pedestrians etc so long as you get your silence. Selfish beyond belief.

Springersrock · 27/08/2019 13:56

Sure. But whilst I can see how nice that would be in rural areas, I think it's irresponsible not to turn it on in suburban city areas.

I think it’s just as irresponsible in rural areas too tbh

CornishMaid1 · 27/08/2019 15:37

There are no completely silent electric cars (even those without the speaker to give the louder artificial noise). The electric motor whines and you can still hear the noise of a vehicle's tyres against the road (probably more so in rural areas).

Pedestrian safety, particularly for visually impaired/blind people, is the reason they are now requiring the speaker to emit noise.

The problem is people not looking and listening out for vehicles. I can always pick out the sound of an electric vehicle nearby, but when people are just used to loud noisy engines it is understandable why they don't twig an electric car. Still, if you have people walking down a road, slowly across who then notice the car have not been paying attention and need to be more aware of their surroundings and take responsibility for keeping themselves safe too.

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