My hearing is abnormal in that I can hear outside of the normal range of human hearing. I used to take hearing tests every two years to make sure the sounds in the refinery were not killing my ears and it always freaked out those doing the tests.

I, too, have noticed that a lot of cars don't make any noise when they are just rolling along. I think this has something to do with the tires being made so that they reduce tire noise inside the car, but this also reduces the noise outside of the car.

By the way... I once asked a Meter Maid why bicycles could not park on the sidewalks. I was told it was because blind people would walk into them.

Look at the market that would be opened up...downloading customized engine sounds. Imagine an electric shoe box emitting a customized Powerstroke clatter engine sound. Better yet, that same little car sounding like a dragster.

The possibilites are endless....

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

If you're living in the city, learn to look where you're going. If you can't be arsed to do that, you're better off being squashed flat and taken out of the gene pool. (Cyclists are also silent -- should they also be forced to carry beepers?)

As far as people who are actually blind, why not have them carry a small transmitter that activates noisemakers within a 50 ft radius of them (make it part of a cane or a dog harness)?

Construction workers used to get run over by equipment that was backing up. Then the beep-beep-beep thing was added.

Does anyone know if this helped to reduce accidents?

Except that noise is a NEGATIVE side effect of infernal combustion cars. i.e., noise doesn't create performance, but is an unfortunate side-effect of freer-flowing exhaust systems. If I could have a sports car or sportbike that's 100% quiet, has good range, and is reasonably priced, I'd go for it in a millisecond. For one thing, it would mean less unwanted attention from revenue collectors in blue uniforms.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

The capitalist at work, that's the American spirit

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

Why the eye-rolling?

If you're in a populated area, LOOK WHERE YOU'RE GOING! If you're in the habit of staring at your mobile phone, your navel, or the lady across the street's mammaries while playing in traffic, the eventual outcome is predictable.

No reason to make cities safe for inattentive idiots at the expense of everyone else's peace and quiet. As far as legitimately disabled people, I already postulated a good solution.

The eye-rolling because I've lived my entire life in the city, don't tell me how to survive the urban jungle.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

I'm waiting for him to legislate the requirement for the toilet paper manufacturer to print detailed instructions on the outside of the roll.

Should happen any day now..............

Actually bicyclists shout out 'Passing on the right' when they come up behind you.

It is because they want you to move out of the way.

When the 2nd generation Prius came out, Jeremy Clarkson remarked it would be dangerous for pedestrians who do not hear the vehicle passing silently.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Especially important for politicians use, their being so full of shlt and all.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Goes right back to one of my favorite topics....
If we actually made sure that people in this country could safely operate a motor vehicle before we gave them a license to do so....
We could eliminate dozens of incredibly stupid laws designed to protect the idiots from the morons....

If you want a noisemaker, and it's not loud enough to be a public nuisance... fine, go get one
Requiring manufacturers to install them... stupid More costly BS from our government.
Whoever is pushing this through NHTSA should have their position eliminated.
We the people should not be paying someone for this kind of crap.
Sequester that entire department.

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

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