Back-up beeper

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] The back-up beeper was invented by Matsusaburo Yamaguchi of Yamaguchi Electric Company in Japan. It was first manufactured as model BA1 in 1963.[2] ISO 6165 describes "audible travel alarms", and ISO 9533 describes how to measure the performance of the alarms.[3]

Criticism

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 the "cry-wolf" effect, people tend to disregard to ever-present alarm sounds, diminishing their effectiveness.[4] The normal level of 1000 Hz pure tone beeps at 97-112 decibels, considerably higher than the long-term hearing loss limit of 80 decibels. Strategies such as adjusting the volume according to the ambient noise and changing the tone to include sounds above 1600 Hz and below 800 Hz for improved localization would improve the alarm, but improvements are not cost-effective for the manufacturer and, if implemented by the equipment owner, introduce liability for the owner.[1]

Brains do not adapt to the repetitive and persistent sound of back-up beepers, but have evolved to process natural sounds that dissipate. The sound is perceived as irritating or painful, which breaks concentration.[5]

In some countries, back-up warning systems using blasts of white noise are becoming more common, and are obligatory for suppliers of some large construction projects. White noise does not have to be as loud as beeps in order to be able to be heard over background noise, and people can more easily hear from which direction the signal comes.[6]

While not addressing the criticism of the type of sound, units exist that moderate the volume based on sensing ambient sound.

Regulations in the United States

Back-up beepers or an observer are required by OSHA for earthmoving vehicles with an obstructed view to the rear and no one on the ground to help guide the driver.[7] The relevant OSHA regulation is 29 CFR Part 1926.601(b)(4) which 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. However, because equipment is moved from place to place, the loudest alarms are often selected.

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.[8]

References
  1. 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. 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.
  4. 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. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  5. 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.
  6. 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
  7. "OSHA Material handling equipment 1926.602(a)(9) – Audible alarms". Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  8. "Quiet Car Rule: New EVs Must Emit Warning Sounds In US By 2019". Inside EVs. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
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