Toyota Motor Sales USA has unveiled a “space-age” sounding alert for some of its electric vehicles, designed to alert bicyclists and blind pedestrians of the presence of a motor vehicle, report news sources .
The new safety sound increases in pitch when a vehicle accelerates and decreases in pitch with deceleration. The new sound will be included with Toyota RAV4 EV, which will be available in 2012. The RAV4 EV is a joint venture between the Japanese automaker and California-based Tesla Motors. In addition to the trans-Pacific partnership vehicle, the Prius and other Toyota hybrid vehicles will be equipped with the alert sound.
Driver control over whether the safety alert sound is enabled will be available in Japanese market vehicles (meaning Japanese drivers will have the option of turning the sound off); however North American market cars will not have the option of driver control over the sound.
As a Spartanburg auto accident attorney , roadway safety is something that I am very conscious of; I encourage drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to be mindful of their surroundings. Because of my experience as a Spartanburg personal injury lawyer , I am very aware of the split-second difference between everything seeming fine and a terrible vehicle crash. I urge all roadway users to always practice safe travel habits.