The sound of silence: do electric cars pose a safety threat?

Hybrid and electric cars are twice as likely to be involved in a pedestrian accident than vehicles fitted with an internal combustion engine, according to the European Blind Union. The problem is that the once-predictable sounds of a traffic intersection are now changing, and EVs and hybrid vehicles are thought, by many parties, to be too quiet, therefore posing a threat to pedestrians and cyclists, especially those that are visually impaired.

The laws on automotive noise in Europe have not changed in nearly 20 years, during which time the number of vehicles in operation has increased. The latest developments on the area of EV noise signify how the automotive industry is working towards a small change which could save many lives.