Back-up beeper

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A back up beeper warns of a garbage truck backing up as it works its way around a cul-de-sac.
A white-noise back-up beeper provides a less disruptive alert than the original pure-tone alert.

A back-up beeper, also known as back-up alarm or vehicle motion alarm, is a device intended to warn passers-by of a vehicle moving in reverse. Some models produce pure tone beeps at about 1000 Hz and 97-112 decibels. [1]

Contents

Matsusaburo Yamaguchi of Yamaguchi Electric Company, Japan, invented the back-up beeper which was first manufactured as model BA1 in 1963. [2]

In the U.S., the back-up beeper was first manufactured by Ed Peterson who sold the system to Boise engineering firm Morrison Knudsen in 1967. As of 1999, the company marketed the Bac-A-Larm and sold about one million of the backup alarms annually, more than other suppliers. [3]

ISO 6165 describes "audible travel alarms", and ISO 9533 describes how to measure the performance of the alarms. [4]

Criticism

Blackbird imitating the reverse signal of a local garbage truck

Back-up beepers have been criticized by the public and in scientific literature. [1] Beepers are at or near the top of lists of complaints to government road builders about road construction noise. There is published concern that due to desensitization and the cry wolf effect people tend to disregard ever-present alarm sounds, diminishing their effectiveness. [5] The typical 1000 Hz pure tone beeps at 97-112 decibels exceed the long-term hearing loss threshold of 70 decibels. [6]

Brains do not adapt to the repetitive and persistent sound of back-up beepers, but have evolved to process natural sounds that dissipate.[ clarification needed ] The sound is perceived as irritating or painful, which breaks concentration. [7] [ better source needed ]

In some countries, back-up warning systems using blasts of white noise have become more common. White noise is more audible than monotone beeping over background noise, and one can more easily ascertain the distance and direction of the sound. [8]

Regulations in the United States

Back-up beepers or an observer are required by OSHA for earth-moving vehicles with an obstructed view to the rear and no one on the ground to help guide the driver. [9] OSHA regulation 29 CFR Part 1926.601(b)(4) requires "a reverse signal alarm audible above surrounding noise level", but only when the motor vehicle has "an obstructed view to the rear". The determination of the noise level is left to the employer.

NHTSA requires electric vehicle warning sounds to alert pedestrians in electric and hybrid vehicles manufactured after 2018, for both forward and reverse travel at low speeds. [10]

Related Research Articles

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Noise Free America is a national, non-profit organization aimed at reducing noise pollution in the community. The organization's main target is noise from boom cars, leaf blowers, motorcycles, and car alarms. Noise Free America has a 501(c)(3) non-profit status and has chapters in 27 states across the U.S. Its headquarters are located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

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Occupational hearing loss (OHL) is hearing loss that occurs as a result of occupational hazards, such as excessive noise and ototoxic chemicals. Noise is a common workplace hazard, and recognized as the risk factor for noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus but it is not the only risk factor that can result in a work-related hearing loss. Also, noise-induced hearing loss can result from exposures that are not restricted to the occupational setting.

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A hearing protection device, also known as a HPD, is an ear protection device worn in or over the ears while exposed to hazardous noise and provide hearing protection to help prevent noise-induced hearing loss. HPDs reduce the level of the noise entering the ear. HPDs can also protect against other effects of noise exposure such as tinnitus and hyperacusis. There are many different types of HPDs available for use, including earmuffs, earplugs, electronic hearing protection devices, and semi-insert devices.

References

  1. 1 2 Holzman, David C. (2011-01-01). "Vehicle Motion Alarms: Necessity, Noise Pollution, or Both?". Environmental Health Perspectives. 119 (1): A30–A33. doi:10.1289/ehp.119-a30. PMC   3018517 . PMID   21196143.
  2. ↑ "Corporate Profile". Triton Signal USA. Archived from the original on November 17, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
  3. ↑ Ravo, Nick (29 May 1999). "Ed Peterson, 78, Inventor of Warning Alarm for Trucks Backing up". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ Popoff-Asotoff, Peter; Holgate, Jonathan; Macpherson, John (21–23 November 2012). "Which is Safer – Tonal or Broadband Reversing Alarms?" (PDF). Proceedings of Acoustics 2012 - Fremantle. Fremantle, Australia.
  5. ↑ Bliss, James P.; Gilson, Richard D.; Deaton, John E. (27 March 2007). "Human probability matching behaviour in response to alarms of varying reliability". Ergonomics. 38 (11): 2300–2312. doi:10.1080/00140139508925269. PMID   7498189 . Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "What Noises Cause Hearing Loss? | NCEH | CDC". www.cdc.gov. 2019-10-07. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  7. ↑ Wolchover, Natalie (September 2012). "Everyday Things that Make You Dumb: Why mundane experiences can throw your mental muscles for a loop". Reader's Digest. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  8. ↑ Vaillancourt, Véronique; Nélisse, Hugues; Laroche, Chantal; Giguère, Christian; Boutin, Jérôme; Laferrière, Pascal (Dec 2013), "Comparison of sound propagation and perception of three types of backup alarms with regards to worker safety", Noise & Health, 15 (67): 420–36, doi: 10.4103/1463-1741.121249 , PMID   24231421
  9. ↑ "OSHA Material handling equipment 1926.602(a)(9) – Audible alarms" . Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  10. ↑ "Quiet Car Rule: New EVs Must Emit Warning Sounds In US By 2019". Inside EVs. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
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