A recent study published in a BMJ journal has revealed that electric vehicles have a higher pedestrian fatality rate compared to petrol or diesel vehicles.
According to experts, electric or hybrid vehicles have a higher likelihood of being involved in a road accident with a bystander compared to petrol or diesel cars, covering the same distance.
Electric Vehicles' Quiet Operation Increases Pedestrian Accident Risk in Urban Areas
The researchers highlighted the impact of the vehicles' quieter engines on the higher fatality rates and urged the government to address the risks as it transitions away from petrol and diesel cars towards net zero emissions, as per Daily Mail.
A comprehensive analysis was conducted on the road collision casualties in Britain from 2013 to 2017, utilizing the Road Safety Data. The study focused on determining the incidence of pedestrians being struck by various categories of vehicles.
Throughout the duration, a staggering 96,285 individuals were involved in collisions with cars or taxis. Although a majority of these individuals experienced collisions with vehicles powered by combustion engines, it is important to note that this is primarily due to the fact that they traveled much greater distances.
The reasons behind the potential hazards of eco-friendly cars remain unclear, but researchers believe that several factors may be responsible.
Statistics show that road traffic accidents have a devastating impact on the lives of children and young adults in the UK.
Electric Cars Pose Higher Risk for Same Distance Covered
A report released by the US Department of Transportation in 2017 revealed that electric and hybrid cars were found to have a 20% higher risk to pedestrians compared to petrol and diesel cars.
Additionally, during low-speed maneuvers like turning, reversing, starting into traffic, and pulling to a stop, the risk was found to be 50% higher.
The majority of vehicles on the road are powered by petrol or diesel, and it is worth noting that these types of vehicles were responsible for a significant portion of pedestrian collisions, accounting for three-quarters of the total incidents.
However, battery-powered cars posed a higher risk for the same distance covered.
According to a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, electric and hybrid cars had an average annual pedestrian casualty rate of 5.16 per 100m miles travelled, while petrol and diesel cars had a rate of 2.4.
It has been mandatory in Europe since July 2019 for all newly sold hybrid and electric vehicles to be equipped with an acoustic vehicle alerting system. This system emits sound when the car is moving at low speeds. However, there is a significant number of electric cars on the road that do not have these devices installed.
However, the issue of hearing electric cars is not the sole concern. Electric vehicles often exhibit impressive acceleration, but their weight can be significantly higher compared to traditional gasoline-powered cars.
Join the Conversation