In the United States, electric cars were obliged to make special sounds to prevent pedestrians

The US National Traffic Safety Directorate (NHTSA) has adopted a new standard for pedestrians. In accordance with it, all new hybrid and electric cars should be equipped with a sound source so as not to be invisible to pedestrians.

As you know, electric cars and hybrid cars traveling on electric traction and at low speed are almost silent. Because of this, random collisions on people who have not heard the approach of the car may occur. Every year, in the United States, due to the collision of quiet cars, various injuries receive an average of 2400 pedestrians, noted in NHTSA. A special risk group is people with weakened or completely absent vision.

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According to the approved standard, all electric cars and hybrid cars weighing up to 4.5 tons should be equipped with a sound signal. The sound signal should be turned on if such a vehicle passes back or goes forward at a speed of less than 30 km/h. NHTSA believes that if the car moves faster, it already makes enough sounds (the noise of the tires and the noise of the wind) to "provide an adequate sound warning for pedestrians."

Thus, the automakers present on the US market are required to equip all new hybrid and electrical vehicles by sounds by September 1, 2019, which comply with federal security standards. According to NHTSA calculations, 50% of these cars should comply with the requirements by September 2018.

The decision of the regulator was welcomed in the American Council of the Blind (ASB), noting that it would make the streets make the streets safer for all pedestrians.

At the same time, the NHTSA in its message does not specify which sound signal should be supplied by slowly traveling electric cars and hybrid cars. Meanwhile, according to N+1 , according to the standard of safety of electric vehicles for pedestrians, which was released back in 2010, the sound made by a slowly traveling quiet car should be in the range of 315-5000 Hz.

Today, several world car manufacturers are already using special warning signals in their electric cars and hybrid cars. In particular, such signals are equipped with Nissan Leaf, Honda FCX Clarity, Chevrolet Volt, Infiniti M35 and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The development of special signals are conducted by Citroen, Ford and Lotus. Since 2012, Toyota has been equipped with all its Prius hybrids to the Japanese market.