Emotional connection without engine sound?

[Scoutsie]

I actually hit a cyclist years ago while driving a Prius when he turned right in front of me, not hearing my car. We were going very slowly and he wasn't hurt, but it really upset me. The silence has been my only concern. My father is blind and has used car noise for years while walking and crossing streets. He has to hope that drivers realize how silent they are and watch out for him. A little noise can be a good thing!

When I had the 2004 Prius, I had to tap the horn at animals in the street because they didn’t know that I was coming and I wasn’t really keen on being an intentional bird/squirrel killer. It wasn’t as much of a problem with the 2010 or the 2015, but I do still have to tap the horn at birds sometimes. The bigger problem for me are the thick-ass A panels blocking the sight of pedestrians in crosswalks. That has scared the shit out of me. I’m glad that my next car will have sensors to detect pedestrians so I’m not slamming on my brakes when I think the crosswalk is clear and it isn’t. I think you tend to assume that because you see someone or something, they can see you. Assume nothing! Thanks, hypervigilance!