Could Hybrid Cars Pose a Higher Risk of Pedestrian Accidents?
April 16, 2010 – 3:51 pm
Hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius tend to be quieter, and for owners of these vehicles, that is part of the allure of these cars. However, the quietness of these vehicles could increase the risk of a pedestrian accident, when a person fails to hear the car approaching.
Those remarks came from the new administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, David Strickland. Speaking at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress, Strickland said that his agency was presently conducting research on hybrid vehicles and risks to pedestrian safety. According to analysis of NHTSA data, there is enough indicate that hybrid electric vehicles could have a higher risk of pedestrian collisions, than internal combustion engines. Pedestrians crossing on a crosswalk may be unable to hear a car approaching. Quieter vehicles could also pose a risk to pedestrian safety while making a turn, or backing out of a parking lot. During such maneuvers, persons nearby may not be able to hear the car approaching, with serious consequences.
The NHTSA is now planning further research into whether to require vehicles to add some kind of noise emitting systems in these vehicles. The sound emitted should be sufficient enough to allow pedestrians to hear the car approaching, and must also easily denote an approaching vehicle.
The NHTSA is also hard at work into the finalization of rules that require automakers to install backup cameras in their vehicles. These cameras will allow motorists to be aware of persons just behind the vehicle. In 2007, according to NHTSA data, backover accidents resulted in 183 fatalities and approximately 7,000 injuries.
Little children are at a special risk for back over accidents. Persons who are physically challenged may also not be able to step out of the path of a car in time to avoid a collision. Cameras can help prevent such accidents. The new rule will likely be phased in across four years. The cameras are the latest in a series of measures that have encouraged California mass tort lawyers about the NHTSA’s commitment to motorist safety.
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