Hybrid cars need to be noisier says Japan

July 7, 2:29 PMTrendy Living ExaminerMark Leevan

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   Silent but deadly?

What started out as a lame joke, may become reality in Japan. Quiet hybrid vehicles may have to be noisy.

The Japanese government is thinking about requiring the makers of electric cars to add a noise device to warn pedestrians.

The new electric cars make no noise when using battery power and are traveling at low speeds - like a city street. Combine that with the ambient noise and it seems like a recipe for disaster.

Concerns were also raised about the visually impaired. They use sound to determine if it's safe to cross a street.

"We have received opinions from automobile users and vision-impaired people that they feel hybrid vehicles are dangerous," said a transport ministry official.

Hybrids are flooding Japan. The new Toyotal Prius is now Japan's best selling car.

Imagine the fun the Japanese government will have determining what kind of noise and how loud is appropriate. Now imagine the same talks taking place in the U.S.