How Do You Wake Up Pedestrians?

[Opifex]

Soon after getting the Prius I went in a double line car park and drove through the first line so that I was pointing out of the second. We then got out and starting arranging things in the boot, unawares that another Prius had crept up behind us and was waiting for us to move so that he could get in the space.

And I am finding this a real problem. Often pedestrians on car parks seem unaware that you are there. The other day I followed an old lady who was walking along a car park and I was afraid that if I tried to squeeze past her she might suddenly decide to step (wobble) in front of me or that I might startle her and make her pacemaker miss a beat.

When I returned home one day I found a group of youth standing talking in the road in front of the drive so I very slowly edged forward but had got very close before the group broke up and moved out of the way. I don't think they were being awkward, just hadn't realised I was moving.

So, how do others manage? A toot on the horn always sounds too agressive so I patiently wait until they wake up. What is really needed is a second, gentler horn for use when you are right behind pedestrians. This doesn't need to be the usual horn sound and could, for example, be an engine noise or anything else you fancy. I think I'd like to have a cow mooing. That would make 'em pay attention. :D

Cheers

[Jan&tone]

Nah! Give 'em the full works

But i do take your point... It does brighten up the day when it happens though.

[dwilson]

Soon after getting the Prius I went in a double line car park and drove through the first line so that I was pointing out of the second. We then got out and starting arranging things in the boot, unawares that another Prius had crept up behind us and was waiting for us to move so that he could get in the space.

And I am finding this a real problem. Often pedestrians on car parks seem unaware that you are there. The other day I followed an old lady who was walking along a car park and I was afraid that if I tried to squeeze past her she might suddenly decide to step (wobble) in front of me or that I might startle her and make her pacemaker miss a beat.

When I returned home one day I found a group of youth standing talking in the road in front of the drive so I very slowly edged forward but had got very close before the group broke up and moved out of the way. I don't think they were being awkward, just hadn't realised I was moving.

So, how do others manage? A toot on the horn always sounds too agressive so I patiently wait until they wake up. What is really needed is a second, gentler horn for use when you are right behind pedestrians. This doesn't need to be the usual horn sound and could, for example, be an engine noise or anything else you fancy. I think I'd like to have a cow mooing. That would make 'em pay attention. :D

Cheers

People tell me how quiet the car is but I have only had one person seem to be totally unaware of the car moving (so I stopped). Most people seem to see the car moving or can hear something. I think I would use the horn briefly if needbe.

Mind you I jumped a mile once when someone in a Jag crept up on me as a pedestrian and tooted - but it was better than being knocked over!

[acetip]

Soon after getting the Prius I went in a double line car park and drove through the first line so that I was pointing out of the second. We then got out and starting arranging things in the boot, unawares that another Prius had crept up behind us and was waiting for us to move so that he could get in the space.

And I am finding this a real problem. Often pedestrians on car parks seem unaware that you are there. The other day I followed an old lady who was walking along a car park and I was afraid that if I tried to squeeze past her she might suddenly decide to step (wobble) in front of me or that I might startle her and make her pacemaker miss a beat.

When I returned home one day I found a group of youth standing talking in the road in front of the drive so I very slowly edged forward but had got very close before the group broke up and moved out of the way. I don't think they were being awkward, just hadn't realised I was moving.

So, how do others manage? A toot on the horn always sounds too agressive so I patiently wait until they wake up. What is really needed is a second, gentler horn for use when you are right behind pedestrians. This doesn't need to be the usual horn sound and could, for example, be an engine noise or anything else you fancy. I think I'd like to have a cow mooing. That would make 'em pay attention. :D

Cheers

you should have a horn like on my auris,sounds like a dogs sqeakey toy,people dont jump, just laugh..most embarrassing.

[timberwolf]

People tell me how quiet the car is but I have only had one person seem to be totally unaware of the car moving (so I stopped). Most people seem to see the car moving or can hear something. I think I would use the horn briefly if needbe.

Mind you I jumped a mile once when someone in a Jag crept up on me as a pedestrian and tooted - but it was better than being knocked over!

I think many Prius owners make a mistake in assuming that their car is quiet from the pedestrians point of view because they associate the quiet inside their car. What about tyre noise? What about other environmental factors such as noise that masks out car tyre noise and petrol engines?

I think I've had just as many clueless pedestrians in car parks walking without any care when I had a Honda Civic as I get with my Prius. Quite a few cars with a petrol engine when ticking over and moving slowly around a car park make very little noise compared with the din of daily life. There also seem to be people who think it is okay to walk right in the middle of the road in car parks, and oddly enough they seem to be the ones in my experience who don't even notice for example a large pickup truck right behind them!

[Chris Dance]

Use the horn it is the only way. I had a runner run across two lines of traffic the other day she just expected all the traffic to stop just for her. I find pedestrians behave just the same no matter what car you are driving.

[Parts-King]

Toyota japan are working on a system to produce noise from silent cars, it sounds a bit like somebody coming up behind you and going ssssshhhhhh, a bit weird if you ask me, a bit like a brake binding noise

I prefer to have something like this fitted

http://www.stebel.it/stebel2009/products.asp?IDserie=9&uso=&IDprodotto=30&tipologia=ELECTROPNEUMATICS

Click on the choices on the right and turn up the Speakers on your comp The Godfather would be a good one for somebody who just nicked your parking space

Kingo

[Grumpy Cabbie]

If you press the middle of your steering wheel a loud noise is emitted from the front of the car!

Seriously, pedestrians will walk out in front of you without looking whatever you drive! I remember driving a knackered old London taxi years ago and people would still just wander out in front of me and then look surprised if you papped your horn! If you couldn't hear or see that cab (2 ton with a big yellow light on the front!) then you should remember to take your white stick with red stripes with you next time to give me a chance!

[Sagitar]

remember to take your white stick with red stripes

I thought they were only for barbers . . . . . .

[Cyker]

I would just like to say that a Moo-cow horn is an awesome idea and I'd totally buy it (If it was really cheap)

This isn't just a Prius problem tho'; I get it all the time and my Yaris is a diesel!

I know what you mean about it feeling a bit rude/aggressive, and I do tend to just disengage the clutch and rev the engine a bit instead, but it's a habit I'm trying to get out of.

Especially since the only reason it feels rude/aggressive is because of all the ******s that abuse it. :ffs:

Usually just a quick double-toot and a friendly wave is enough.

The only trouble there is with totally oblivious people, especially old ones; I'm always worried I'll give them a heart attack or something

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Perhaps you should just install some loud bass boom box (or whatever the yoof call them) and turn up your tunes when behind the little old dears. They then move out of your way assuming you're some uninsured yob!

Simples

[Cyker]

[Doesn'tExist]

I wish I could say the jbl sub in our car but as that is a disappointment I just use the horn.

[Parts-King]

I make no apologies for posting this one yet again, cracks me up every time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwnQXUlu2c8

Kingo

[Jan&tone]

I make no apologies for posting this one yet again, cracks me up every time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwnQXUlu2c8

Kingo

Yup - still makes me laugh too - would be interesting to know what car it was, t'would be even funnier if it was something like a Reliant Robin

[Grumpy Cabbie]

lol childish but funny. Is that a train horn?

[capnbirdseye]

lol childish but funny. Is that a train horn?

reminds me of my first car when I was a teenager in the 1960's and I had a Klaxon hooter off a WW2 submarine fitted under the bonnet of my Triumph and I used to do the same thing to passing girls who inevitably screamed and dropped their handbags

[Parts-King]

I used to do the same thing to passing girls who inevitably screamed and dropped their handbags

Dropped there what? My hearing isnt what it used to be

[acetip]

I used to do the same thing to passing girls who inevitably screamed and dropped their handbags

Dropped there what? My hearing isnt what it used to be

hi kingo

funny how things are described the days,maybe its a code.

where can i get one of these horns (or a couple)

[Parts-King]

Ive got into enough trouble with one horn thank you very much acetip :D:

Maybe a whistle instead?

WARNING Some language is a bit choice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfmsVHwGWlU

Kingo