Increasing Danger of Hybrid Vehicles: Perspectives and Issues on the Development of the Quiet Hybrid Automobile

Pedestrian safety is of utmost importance to all members of the public who use city sidewalks, attempt to enter shopping malls, or cross busy intersections. It is also a basic human rights issue. This paper is intended to increase awareness of the dangers of the quiet, hybrid automobile, foster dialogue among major stakeholders, and discuss several issues and possible solutions to this growing menace on our streets. The perspectives presented are drawn from a variety of sources, both personal communications and published sources. The author lives in Toronto, Ontario, and he has been blind for the majority of his 58 years. The author navigates around Toronto on subways, buses, streetcars and on foot. He also travels regularly to other cities in Canada, and has visited 24 countries on five continents. Safe and independent travel is vitally important to me and all other pedestrians. Today city streets are becoming increasingly dangerous for all pedestrians. There are more and more motorists; many are in a hurry in this fast-paced world; and many are distracted while talking on their cell phones. The presence of more and more quiet automobiles on our streets will only add to existing safety hazards throughout our communities.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transport Canada

  1000 Sherbrooke Street, West, P.O. Box 549
  Montreal, Quebec  Canada  H3A 2R3
• Authors:
  • Rae, John
• Conference:
  • 11th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED)
  • Location: Montreal , Canada
  • Date: 2007-6-18 to 2007-6-22
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: References;
• Pagination: 5p
• Monograph Title: Transed 2007. Benchmarking, Evaluation and Vision for the Future

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Blind persons; Distraction; Hazards; Hybrid vehicles; Pedestrian movement; Pedestrian safety; Pedestrian traffic; Traffic safety
• Identifier Terms: Transed
• Uncontrolled Terms: Quiet vehicles
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01130300
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 19 2009 9:28AM