Pedestrian deaths in the United States have gone up a lot in the last five years. This might be because more drivers are not paying attention and are getting distracted while driving.
But there’s another reason too: hybrids and electric cars seem to be more dangerous for pedestrians. A recent study in the UK found that they are twice as likely to hit pedestrians compared to cars with regular engines. In cities, this risk goes up even more – they are three times more likely to hit someone.
But before we say electric cars are bad, let’s be clear: this isn’t an attack on them. Electric cars are quieter than regular cars, so it’s harder to hear them coming, even though they are supposed to make noise at low speeds. Also, they are often driven by younger people who don’t have as much experience.
Even though this study happened in the UK, a 2017 study in the US also found that electric cars and hybrids have a higher risk of hitting pedestrians, especially at low speeds.
One of the people who did the study, Phil Edwards, said, “Electric cars are a hazard to pedestrians because they are less likely to be heard than petrol (gas) or diesel cars. The government needs to mitigate these risks if they are going to phase out the sale of petrol and diesel cars.
If you’re moving to an electric car, remember that it’s a new kind of vehicle. They are much quieter than the old-fashioned cars, and pedestrians have learned to navigate roads by listening for traffic. Drivers of these vehicles need to be extra cautious.”
Edwards also mentioned that electric cars can be heavier and accelerate faster, which means they might take longer to stop. He thinks that if the government wants more people to use electric cars, they also need to make sure pedestrians are safe by making stricter rules.
