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@marcomarcos
Sorry if this issue has been covered in another thread but aside from James Martin deserving some serious grief for his comments the fact is that silent cars are dangerous. I'm sure most of us listen as well as look for the presence of cars when cycling. If you're driving down quiet backstreets and one of those Prius eco-cars comes out of nowhere it can be very disconcerting. I'm convinced the number of cyclist and pedestrian accidents will increase at least proportionately with number of silent cars on the roads.
In the US they have introduced The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 which requires the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study on what effects hybrid and electric cars are having on pedestrian injuries and deaths. The Japanese have gone further and are likely to force manufacturers to ensure these vehicles are installed with noise-making devices.
Until we catch up over here be careful out there and don't assume you're safe baeause the street is silent.