NHTSA standard will make hybrids noisier to protect pedestrians
Goal: Preventing 2,400 pedestrian injuries a year
Hybrid and electric light-duty vehicles operate more quietly than conventional cars and trucks, which can make them a danger to pedestrians – particularly those who are blind or have low vision and rely on sound to tell them when a vehicle is approaching.
That’s why the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is adding a sound requirement to federal safety standard intended to help pedestrians detect the presence, direction and location of these vehicles when they are traveling at low speeds. The DOT predicts the rule will help prevent about 2,400 pedestrian injuries each year -- once all hybrids in the fleet are properly equipped.