Government Wants Green Cars to be Louder
BLITZER: They don't take a lot of gasoline, they are good for the environment and pretty quiet out there on the roads. But now the Transportation Department is saying some electric and hybrid cars are simply too quiet to be safe. Rene Marsh is here in THE SITUATION ROOM working the story for us. So, Rene, what are they proposing to do about this?</s>RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they are asking that these vehicles have this sound technology placed inside of it, so that people can know that, hey, this vehicle is coming my way. The concern is that these cars are awfully quiet and pedestrians are possibly going to be injured because they don't know that this vehicle is on its way -- Wolf.</s>MARSH (voice-over): They're green, fuel efficient, but too quiet and a potential threat to cyclists and pedestrians. That's what the Department of Transportation says about hybrid and electric cars. The federal agency just proposed rules that would require new, green vehicles make sounds, loud enough to alert pedestrians and cyclists, like George Abbott.</s>GEORGE ABBOTT, CYCLIST: I have experience going alongside them and not -- like not realizing that there was one there.</s>MARSH (on camera): It's what's under the hood that makes these hybrid and electric cars so quiet on the road. This Nissan Leaf already has technology similar to what the government wants in all electric and hybrid cars. Do you hear that sound? Well, the government believes it could save lives. (</s>Voice-over): Eddie George sells the vehicles at DARCARS in Maryland.</s>EDDIE GEORGE, DARCARS NISSAN: The car is very quiet. You cannot hear anything. So I mean, you have some people, when they're coming to test drive the car, is the car on?</s>MARSH: But a flip of a switch, and its pedestrian alert feature turns on. Without the feature, a much quieter drive.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think that would help, but I think -- you know, again, I think people just need to pay more attention.</s>MARSH: DOT says the sounds would need to be loud enough to still be heard, despite other street and ambient noises when the vehicle is traveling under 18 miles per hour. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates the proposal would mean 2800 fewer pedestrian and cyclist injuries per year.</s>MARSH: All right. Well, each company can actually pick the particular sound that they want their car to make. For example, the vehicle we looked at today, the Nissan Leaf, the technology was developed with the help of students from some of the country's schools for hearing impaired. So they helped them out in trying to get that technology together, so they can pick just the right sound for folks as they're trying to cross those streets.</s>BLITZER: So when they add a little sound, how loud is that car going to be?</s>MARSH: Well, I'll tell you this. Don't expect a blaring sound to come from any of these green vehicles. Actually, it was a lot louder in our piece than it actually is, only because our mics were picking up the sound there. But do expect a softer, a more subtle sound, but still something that is recognizable, that, hey, a vehicle is on its way -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Rene, thanks very much.</s>MARSH: Sure.</s>BLITZER: He's the executive chairman of a company you might use every day, but what is one of Google's top leaders doing in one of the most reclusive nations on earth. Stand by.