Is it 'Please Note, Reversing' or 'Reversing, Please Note'?
2 Answers
Regarding whether it should be 'Reversing, please note' or 'Please note, reversing', the meaning is essentially the same. It mainly depends on how the recording is segmented. However, from a humanistic care perspective, 'Please note, reversing' is more appropriate. As the saying goes, 'courtesy before force', and placing the word 'please' at the beginning is more polite. Due to the richness of the Chinese language, it's not uncommon for a single sentence to carry multiple meanings. Below is additional information: 1. The inventor of this voice message: Li Shufu, founder of Geely Automobile. 2. The background of its invention: At that time, Li Shufu went to chat with his brother who ran a restaurant and noticed the danger of the restaurant's delivery tricycle reversing. He suddenly came up with the idea to record a 'Please note, reversing' message, which the driver would play every time the vehicle reversed.
I've been driving for over a decade and always pay close attention to safety details. Regarding reverse warning sounds, the national standard GB7258 explicitly requires the installation of reverse voice devices. If you listen carefully to the vehicles around you, nine out of ten will be playing 'Please be aware, vehicle reversing'. Why is it designed this way? Because when people hear a voice message, the brain prioritizes processing key phrases. The words 'vehicle reversing' jump out first to instantly alert people, followed by 'Please be aware' to reinforce the warning. If it were 'Please be aware of vehicle reversing', by the time the second half of the sentence is spoken, it might be half a second too late, and pedestrians might not react in time. I once witnessed this in a logistics park—forklifts using 'Please be aware, vehicle reversing' were noticeably more effective than regular cars that only use beeping sounds. So, this isn't just a matter of habit; it's a safety solution that's been proven effective.
