1. This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Kim DS, Wall Emerson R, Naghshineh K, Pliskow J, Myers K. Impact of adding artificially generated alert sound to hybrid electric vehicles on their detectability by pedestrians who are blind. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2012; 43(3):381–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2011.03.0041 Slideshow Project DOI:10.1682/JRRD. 2011.03.0041JSP Impact of adding artificially generated alert sound to hybrid electric vehicles on their detectability by pedestrians who are blind Dae Shik Kim, PhD; Robert Wall Emerson, PhD; Koorosh Naghshineh, PhD; Jay Pliskow, MS; Kyle Myers, MS

2. This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Kim DS, Wall Emerson R, Naghshineh K, Pliskow J, Myers K. Impact of adding artificially generated alert sound to hybrid electric vehicles on their detectability by pedestrians who are blind. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2012; 43(3):381–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2011.03.0041 Slideshow Project DOI:10.1682/JRRD. 2011.03.0041JSP Aim – Investigate how addition of artificially generated sound affects blind pedestrians’ detectability of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Relevance – Potential impact of hybrid and battery electric vehicles on mobility of blind pedestrians topic of interest in popular media. Assume quieter vehicles may be more dangerous to blind pedestrians, who often rely on hearing vehicles to navigate and travel safely.

3. This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Kim DS, Wall Emerson R, Naghshineh K, Pliskow J, Myers K. Impact of adding artificially generated alert sound to hybrid electric vehicles on their detectability by pedestrians who are blind. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2012; 43(3):381–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2011.03.0041 Slideshow Project DOI:10.1682/JRRD. 2011.03.0041JSP Methods 14 legally blind adults attempted to detect 3 vehicles at 2 test sites: – Vehicles: Midsize HEV sedan. Same make and model HEV sedan with Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians (VSP) system. Same make and model internal combustion engine (ICE) sedan. – Test Sites: University parking lot. Roadway near busy interstate and street.

4. This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Kim DS, Wall Emerson R, Naghshineh K, Pliskow J, Myers K. Impact of adding artificially generated alert sound to hybrid electric vehicles on their detectability by pedestrians who are blind. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2012; 43(3):381–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2011.03.0041 Slideshow Project DOI:10.1682/JRRD. 2011.03.0041JSP Results Detection Distance: – Vehicle: VSP vehicle detected significantly further away than HEV but not ICE. – Test Site: Despite sound level difference between parking lot and roadway, no significant difference. – No vehicle x site interaction found. Noteworthy: – Improved crossing margin (from –0.4 to 2.1 s) with forward VSP.

5. This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Kim DS, Wall Emerson R, Naghshineh K, Pliskow J, Myers K. Impact of adding artificially generated alert sound to hybrid electric vehicles on their detectability by pedestrians who are blind. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2012; 43(3):381–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2011.03.0041 Slideshow Project DOI:10.1682/JRRD. 2011.03.0041JSP Conclusions HEV with VSP was detected at significantly farther distance than same HEV without VSP. Equipping hybrid and electric vehicles with sound system that emits an alerting sound in certain low-speed maneuver conditions may contribute to the safety of blind pedestrians.