The Honourable Lawrence Cannon
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Tower C – 330 Sparks St.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1A 0N5

April 6, 2008

Dear Mr. Cannon:

As president of the Canadian Federation of the Blind, I am writing to ask your help to make sure that blind pedestrians continue to have the freedom to walk safely on the streets and sidewalks of this country. The threat to the freedom of blind citizens comes from the proliferation of quiet hybrid cars, those which use both a gasoline and electric-only motor. Electric cars, which are in the planning stages, but not yet in common use, also are silent and pose a hazard.

Until recently, independent travel for the blind has been a relatively simple matter. Once a blind person has been trained in travel techniques and has learned to use a white cane or to travel with a guide dog, the blind person is independent. Blind people listen to the sounds of automobile engines to determine the direction, speed, and pattern of traffic. Sounds from traffic tell blind pedestrians how many vehicles are near them and how fast they are moving, whether the vehicles are accelerating or decelerating, and whether the vehicles are traveling toward, away from, or parallel to them. With all of this information, blind people can accurately determine when it is safe to proceed into an intersection or across a driveway or parking lot. The information obtained from listening to traffic sounds allows blind people to travel with confidence and without assistance.

However, when vehicles make little or no sound, they compromise the safety of blind travelers and other pedestrians.

The silence of gasoline-electric hybrid cars poses an immediate and growing threat to the safety of blind people and other pedestrians, and jeopardizes the ability of blind people to travel independently.

To address the threat of quiet cars, the vehicles must emit a sound detectable by the human ear.

Auto manufacturers are aware of the problem, but so far have been reluctant to make the simple and inexpensive changes pedestrians need.

We ask the Government of Canada to take international leadership in this area by mandating standards developed in consultation with the Canadian Federation of the Blind and other interested pedestrian groups.

These standards should include the following:

* vehicles should be required to emit an omni-directional sound with similar spectral characteristics to those of a modern internal combustion engine.

* This sound should be detectable in all phases of operation, including times when the vehicle is at a full stop.

* The sound should vary in a way that is consistent with the sound of vehicles with combustion engines to indicate whether the vehicle is idling, maintaining a constant speed, accelerating, or decelerating.

This sound would allow the blind to continue to travel in safety, and would also protect cyclists, runners, other pedestrians and children, all of whom rely on the sounds of traffic to varying degrees.

The addition of components that will emit a minimum sound discernible to blind people and other pedestrians will not adversely affect the environmental benefits of gasoline-electric hybrids and other automobiles running on alternate power sources; nor need the sound be loud enough to contribute to noise pollution. Automobiles that operate in complete silence endanger the safety of everyone. Silent operation should be seen as a design flaw, and be considered similar to the external safety measures now used, such as daytime running lights and the audible vehicle reverse beeper.

Quiet cars were designed to protect the environment from harmful pollutants and to reduce gasoline consumption. Silent operation was a byproduct of their design, not its principle intent. It would be a grim irony if vehicles intended to make the environment better for all of us made it unsafe for blind citizens. No one wants that, and we urge you to help ensure our continued freedom to walk with pride and independence.

I look forward to hearing your response to this important safety issue.

The Canadian Federation of the Blind (CFB) is an organization of blind people committed to the equality and empowerment of blind Canadians. Members work for change, promote a positive perspective of blindness and together gain confidence and skills.

To learn more about the Canadian Federation of the Blind, or to reach us, please see our contact information above.

Yours Sincerely,

Elizabeth Lalonde, President
Canadian Federation of the Blind

Cc: David Christopherson, NDP, M.P.
Paul Zed, Liberal Party, M.P.