Originally Posted by
I-Like-To-Bike
That site freezes up on my Firefox browser, and it doesn't sound as a search for a better URL would provide any conclusive support for the "factoid" based rhetoric.
Try this:
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811204.PDF
This is the title of the study, feel free to Google away:
Incidence of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Crashes by Hybrid Electric Passenger Vehicles
Originally Posted by
mtalinm
that's the analysts being responsible statisticians instead of making wildly overblown claims. but when I read the entire report, what's convincing is that they find that a disproportionate % of accidents with pedestrians/cyclists at intersections and in other low-speed situations involve hybrid vehicles. the differences are statistically significant at conventionally-acceptable (95% confidence level) intervals.
and those results are also consistent with pedestrians/cyclists not being able to hear the hybrid vehicle coming. so don't dismiss it as "inconclusive"
Poor word choice on my part, as the study certainly contains conclusions. I was alluding to the small sample size, mentioned by the authors, and the fact that data from only 32 states was available to the researchers. I agree that an automobile that cannot be heard is less likely to be detected, and poses a threat to those who rely heavily or solely on audible cues to navigate around cars.
I like the idea of creating an artificial warning noise for silent cars. I'd like it if hybrid and electric vehicles all sounded like the flying cars from the Jetsons, 'cause that'd be hilarious. In the meantime, I'll continue checking my rear view mirror regularly.