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CALIFORNIA, USA - A US government safety agency wants electric and hybrid vehicles to make more noise when traveling at low speeds so pedestrians can hear them coming.
Hybrid cars and trucks, which are far quieter than conventional petrol or diesel-powered vehicles, don't produce enough noise at low speeds to warn pedestrians, cyclists and the visually impaired, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.
The proposed rule would require the vehicles to make additional noise at speeds under 29km/h. NHTSA says hybrids create enough noise to be heard at higher speeds.
Automakers would be able to pick the sounds that the cars make from a range of choices. Similar vehicles would have to make the same sounds.
The US government says pedestrians must be able to hear the sounds over background noises.
The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed rule. The agency will use public input to craft a final rule.
NHTSA estimates that the new noise would prevent 2800 pedestrian and cyclist injuries during the life of each model year of electric and hybrid vans, trucks and cars.
The rule is required by the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act that was passed by Congress in 2010.
Hybrid cars and trucks, which are far quieter than conventional petrol or diesel-powered vehicles, don't produce enough noise at low speeds to warn pedestrians, cyclists and the visually impaired, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.
The proposed rule would require the vehicles to make additional noise at speeds under 29km/h. NHTSA says hybrids create enough noise to be heard at higher speeds.
Automakers would be able to pick the sounds that the cars make from a range of choices. Similar vehicles would have to make the same sounds.
The US government says pedestrians must be able to hear the sounds over background noises.
The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed rule. The agency will use public input to craft a final rule.
NHTSA estimates that the new noise would prevent 2800 pedestrian and cyclist injuries during the life of each model year of electric and hybrid vans, trucks and cars.
The rule is required by the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act that was passed by Congress in 2010.
