B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Aircraft Automation Overrode Flight Crew; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Environment - Non Weather Related; Aircraft; Company Policy
We were cleared to cross XXL and hold short XXR.  Now; normally I try to hold well short of hold short lines in order to keep the stupid RAAS from shouting out Useless Communication Inhibitors (UCI's); but at this airport there is barely enough room to wedge a 737 between the two runways.  Sure enough; as we rolled to a stop at the XXR hold short; Tower tried to issue a clearance; likely my Company Somebody or Other About Something Fairly Important; but the RAAS blasted off and we couldn't hear a thing.  Upon asking for a repeat; we learned to our non-surprise that Tower had in fact tried to clear us for takeoff; but of course receiving and understanding that clearance is not as important as hearing the RAAS shout that we're approaching a runway that we're already stopping short of.  In all the years this safety hazard has been inflicted upon us I have yet to hear a single LINE pilot not say that it sucks.  And that's putting it politely.
A B737 Captain reports the EGPWS RAAS is a safety hazard because it interferes with important communications in untimely circumstances.