Pedestrians vs. The Prius

Despite some recent safety setbacks Toyota has some good news for pedestrians; the Prius is getting a little louder.

Because the Prius runs mostly as an electric car the engine doesn’t give off much sound, especially if the car is traveling at a low rate of speed. This poses a problem for pedestrians, particularly the blind who complain they can’t hear the car coming. And a recent government safety study found that the Prius is twice as likely to be involved in a collision with a pedestrian as cars with conventional engines.

In order to boost up the volume a $148 speaker system will go on sale in Japan at the end of the month. A spokesperson says Toyota is also considering offering it in the U.S. and other markets. The system will go under the hood of the third generation Prius and will set off a whirring sound. The system will turn on with the car but can be turned off with a switch.

Other automakers such as Ford, General Motors and Nissan say they are also working on similar counter measures for their quiet electric cars. These cars might be good for the environment but it would sure help to hear them coming.