A disturbing revelation was made through a new research conducted by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine: the risk posed to pedestrians is greater in electric and hybrid vehicles compared to conventional petrol or diesel cars. The data— drawn from billions of miles driven on the roads of UK— indicates that pedestrian collisions involve electric cars twice as much when compared to petrol vehicles in general. But this factor climbs even higher in urban settings, reaching three times more likely than petrol vehicle involvement.
What makes electric cars environmentally friendly is also the same reason for this hidden danger — their quiet operation. When we hear a car approaching, we are usually alerted by the loud noise of the engine; however, electric vehicles generate minimal sound, which can easily go unnoticed by pedestrians in busy urban settings where silence prevails. The absence of these auditory indicators poses serious issues for blind people and young children who cannot sense a car’s proximity based on sound or speed based on distance.
Professor Phil Edwards, who is the primary author of the study, underscores the urgency of taking immediate action. “Pedestrian safety is compromised by electric vehicles as they do not make any noise,” he points out. “The government should eliminate these risks if they plan to stop selling petrol and diesel cars.” Edwards advocates for a multi-faceted strategy that entails mandating all electric cars to have audible warning systems producing sound while running at low speeds. Moreover, he recommends revising pedestrian safety regulations— like the Green Cross Code in the UK— to adapt to difficulties presented by silent electric vehicles.
The discovery is consistent with the prior concerns that have been raised in the United States. In a report published in 2017, the Department of Transportation revealed that electric and hybrid vehicles were actually more dangerous to pedestrians by 20% on an overall basis; this risk could spike up to as much as 50% under low-speed conditions (such as when turning or merging into traffic).
The rising demand for electric cars creates a special problem: striking a balance between environmental advantages and pedestrian safety. The significance of adjusting to new technologies is emphasized by this study. Electric vehicles operate quietly, which is a step in the right direction towards a cleaner environment, but it calls for creative solutions to guarantee pedestrian safety on our roadways. These remedies could include requiring electric vehicles to have audible warning systems, stepping up driver awareness campaigns emphasizing how quiet these vehicles are, and possibly revising pedestrian safety regulations to account for the difficulties silent electric vehicles provide. We cannot guarantee a seamless transition to an electric vehicle-dominated future without jeopardizing the safety of other road users unless we take a holistic approach.
