# The silent Prius

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-silent-prius/43970>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** prius, toyota\
**Created:** [February 6, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-silent-prius/43970 "2010-02-06T19:04:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![quackyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@quackyduck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/quackyduck)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-silent-prius/43970/1 "2010-02-06T19:04:58Z")

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I rode in a Prius recently and was intrigued that it is silent during certain phases of operation. I was wondering if this is a safety hazard, because pedestrians, kids, dogs, etc. can’t hear it coming?

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**Author:** ![mshugna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@mshugna](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mshugna)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-silent-prius/43970/2 "2010-02-06T19:19:38Z")

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of course it can be…see this web site…  
[http://www.thecarconnection.com/tips-article/1010548\_blind-want-prius-to-make-noise](http://www.thecarconnection.com/tips-article/1010548_blind-want-prius-to-make-noise)

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**Author:** ![GSN\_fan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@GSN\_fan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GSN_fan)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-silent-prius/43970/3 "2010-02-06T19:34:01Z")

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They can hear the wind noise and the noise of the tires. Besides, the engine is off only at low speeds. If you see a pedestrian on the road and the engine is off, you should have enough time to brake or honk the horn.

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-silent-prius/43970/4 "2010-02-06T19:54:02Z")

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Yes. Advocates for the blind and deaf are trying to have some sort of warning noise mandated for electric cars.

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**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-silent-prius/43970/5 "2010-02-06T20:23:03Z")

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I don’t see how a warning noise would help the deaf.