Strollerderby

Hybrid Cars Will Kill Your Kids

Posted by Cole Gamble

Now I don't want to to give any global warming deniers out there fuel for the fire, but it turns out there is a downside to hybrid cars: they are dangerous to children.

What insidious reason is there for children to fear the Toyota Prius?...


They are silent.


Eight-year-old Owen Erickson discovered this first hand while riding his bike, one of the ubiquitous Priuses “sneaked” up on him, and the boy ended up on the hood. Luckily he was not hurt, but Owen's mother blamed the accident on the car's quiet running engine.

This isn't the first time there has been complaints against the noiseless hybrids. In my mind, the greater chance of danger goes to cats and dogs who often love to nestle under cars until that engine turns over and sends them running.

It's an easily solved problem, though. Just equip every new Prius with a bass-heavy sound system and a Cyprus Hill cd. Or you could just install an air horn that never shuts off. Wouldn't that be fun?


+ DIGG + STUMBLE

Comments

 

Kaz said:

Or, another solution might be for car drivers and kids to, you know, pay attention.

May 12, 2008 2:12 PM
 

Kim said:

Lucky that Owen was OK! The mom's concern about the car is misplaced. The driver is at fault, not the car.

I've been driving a Prius for a year, and have noticed the "stealth" factor with pedestrians of all ages. But I got used to it pretty fast. Whenever I'm driving very slowly, like in a driveway or parking lot, the car is eerily silent, but it's pretty obvious who is aware of me and who isn't. Still, it's not that different from being a careful driver in any other car. You can never assume someone is paying attention or even that they hear you. I think that's what the horn is for.

That said, I do worry about people who rent or borrow these cars. They might not be prepared to compensate for the stealth factor.

May 12, 2008 2:52 PM
 

DCMama said:

Bells on the car, like we put on cats to protect the birds?

May 12, 2008 3:31 PM
 

Alana said:

I thought this bit was going to be about the entirely plastic interior off gassing terrible chemicals into your child's body...My Prius is two years old and STILL has that 'new car smell'

May 12, 2008 6:17 PM
 

Surfer Jay said:

Look both ways. Perhaps we need to better enforce that unwritten law in our brave new world of hybrids.

May 12, 2008 10:52 PM

About Cole Gamble

Cole Gamble’s writings on the crimes of Willy Wonka, man-eating beds and tales from his cringe-worthy life appear here on Babble, the humor site Cracked, The Daily Beast, The Huffington Post and Salon. He is working on a book entitled, Conquer Everything! A Self Help Book to Destroy All Other Self Help Books and Grant You Mastery in Everything.

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