As an environmentally aware people, all of us, even those who love the sound and smell of non-electric engines, agree that the way to go in the future is electric. Automobile pollution remains one of the top polluters of the environment and a major shift to hybrid vehicles would help the earth in a big way. However here is one aspect that we never thought of. These hybrids and consider them all each time I mention the word Prius in this article.

We all know that despite the cacophony of sounds that is present on our roads, its these sounds that help the blind and visually disabled to navigate and steer clear of cars. Despite the blind persons enhanced sensitvity to sounds, there must be a minimum volume for his brain to register and react to the same. A normal conversation at home takes place at 50 decibels. That would be you and me chatting in our normal voices over a cup of coffee. The Prius, while accelerating, puts up a sound of 53 decibels. If there happens to be a wind in the opposite direction, this volume would be further reduced.

The Wall Street Journal which of course is the inspiration behind this article needs to be quoted to get the point across exactly

... Michael Osborn, a blind marketing consultant from Laguna Beach, Calif., and his guide dog, Hastings, were in the middle of an intersection one morning last April when the yellow Lab stopped short. Mr. Osborn took the cue and halted -- just in time to feel the breeze from a car passing right in front of them.

"Half an inch and it would have hit us ... it wasn't making any noise," says Mr. Osborn, 50, who has been blind for 12 years. Witnesses say the car was a Toyota Prius, a hybrid vehicle....

Thanks to Operation Gadget for making the point and bringing it to non-subscribers attention.