Pedestrians will now hear that Tesla, Leaf or Bolt coming when it travels at low speeds with the new NHTSA mandate.
A few years down the road, if you cross the street and suddenly wonder what that “strange” noise is, you may have the U.S. government to thank for potentially saving your life.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finalized rules mandating electric vehicles, hybrids and other “quiet” cars emit “alert sounds” when traveling at speeds of 18.6 miles or slower.
At higher speeds, the sound alert is not required because other factors, such as tire and wind noise, provide adequate audible warning to pedestrians.
The effort, which was required by Congress in 2010, is aimed at preventing injuries of pedestrians, cyclists and the blind who may not see or hear a car not powered by an internal combustion engine.
“We all depend on our senses to alert us to possible danger,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
“With more, quieter hybrid and electrical cars on the road, the ability for all pedestrians to hear as well as see the cars becomes an important factor of reducing the risk of possible crashes and improving safety.”
The new Chevy Bolt will be required to emit an "audible" sound starting in 2020.
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Automakers have until September 2019 to begin equipping quiet vehicles with some sort of noise-emitting device to provide plenty of notice that a slower-moving vehicle is moving toward people on or near roadways. The rule could be reviewed when the Trump administration takes office in January.
The mandate is expected to cost makers $39 million in the first year, but will prevent an estimated 2,400 injuries annually saving as much as $320 million. About 530,000 vehicles are expected to meet the new regulations, according to NHTSA.
The safety agency estimates the odds of a hybrid vehicle being involved in a pedestrian crash are 19 percent higher compared with a traditional gas-powered vehicle. About 125,000 pedestrians and bicyclists are injured annually.
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While it will definitely provide additional safeguards for everyday pedestrians and cyclists, it is the blind that may benefit the most from the new rule.
“Having raised concerns on behalf of blind Americans about the dangers posed by silent hybrid and electric vehicles, the National Federation of the Blind is extremely pleased that technical specifications for a safe level of sound to be emitted by such vehicles have now been issued,” said Mark A. Riccobono, president of the National Federation of the Blind.
“The full implementation of the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 will protect all pedestrians, especially the blind, as well as cyclists. This regulation will ensure that blind Americans can continue to travel safely and independently as we work, learn, shop, and engage in all facets of community life.”
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The new rules apply to hybrid and electric cars, SUVs, trucks and buses that are up to 10,000 pounds and are aimed at preventing crashes at intersections or when electric vehicles are backing up.