Hybrid and electric cars are good for the environment because of they either emit extremely low or even no emissions at all. However, there seems to be a problem: they are also too quiet. And it’s not just a problem for car lovers who will miss the sound of the engine revving, but mostly for pedestrians who will not hear an oncoming, completely silent vehicle and face the risk of an accident.
Therefore, the US NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has published a notice that, if implemented, will require by law all electric and hybrid vehicles to emit a noise that will warn pedestrians of their presence. This comes after a study in October 2009, which reported that a greater percentage of hybrids were involved in accidents with pedestrians than vehicles with normal combustion engines.
NHTSA administrator David Strickland commented on the issue: “With more and more quiet vehicles on the road, we have to consider their effect on pedestrians. Even as we make giant leaps forward with hybrid and electric vehicles, we must remain focused on safety.”
The NHTSA must define a standard for an automatic alert system that requires no driver intervention, and stipulates that all vehicles of the same make and model must have the same sound.
Source: NHTSA via Bloomberg
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