A strong argument, based upon the second study, would require the blind to wear a half-top, motorcycle or bicycle helmet when walking. They might still be injured but the helmet would greatly increase their survival rate regardless of the vehicle involved in the accident. A blind safety helmet could include electronic enhancements to extend their hearing range and detect oncoming traffic. So along with their white cane, a white safety helmet, possibly with a super-bright, flashing, LED, would improve their outcome while walking.

The blind may suffer from a narrow understanding of acceptable solutions . . . when all you have is a hammer, all problems resemble a nail. Reduced to touch and hearing, it is natural that they would think adding sound solves the problem. Yet they are also being struck by ordinary vehicles today. It would be a tragedy if the last thing a dead pedestrian heard was faux engine noise, which looks to be the only solution proposed by the blind.

I thought I would add something to this discussion, which I found by chance:

I am a blind pedestrian, and I'm simply amazed at the lack of knowledge about how I and others who are blind actually travel. I was in Stockholm last summer, where a substantial number of taxis are Priuses. It is disconcerting, because they make no noise: that's no problem if they are mixed in with conventional cars, but when a lone Hybrid is in my space, I might have a problem. Right turning cars at a green traffic light are always a problem, with hybrids the problem becomes a bit more serious. I assume you know, that a white cane, used when I cross the road, means cars MUST stop. The suggestion that I would have to wear a helmet so drivers can violate basic rules of traffic simply makes no sense. The suggestion that "electronic aids" will ameliorate the basic problem is simply ludicrous: I don't need to extend my range of hearing, I simply need meaningful input to discern whether it's safe to cross the road. So I listen for traffic surges and for the sound of cars that are stationary as they wait a traffic light. Also, I don't need LOTS of noise: just enough to let me know what cars are doing. That's all. I don't see why that should be a problem. And I must be honest with you: sound is the only reliable solution here. The GPS suggestion may look nice technically, but it will never help me in everyday life. And the wearing of helmets: I already announce my presence as a blind person in traffic: it is others who should observe the rules of traffic in this case. Almost everyone I know (blind) who has had an accidence had this happen to them either by the carelessness of car drivers or because they relied on a sighted person who said it was "safe to cross". I've been traveling, sightless, for most of my adult life, the only accident I've had was with a bike rider who didn't see me. And I didn't hear him.

By the way: this site's captcha made it impossible for me to register without sighted help.