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?