Research on UK road accidents reveals that hybrid and electric cars are more likely to be involved in collisions with pedestrians compared to petrol or diesel cars, especially in urban areas.
Data collected from 32 billion miles of battery-powered vehicles and 3 trillion miles of gasoline and diesel vehicles indicates that electric and hybrid cars encounter more pedestrian accidents per mile than fossil fuel-powered cars. They were found to be twice as likely to hit pedestrians and three times more likely to do so in urban settings.
The reasons for the increased risk associated with eco-friendly cars are not entirely clear, but researchers suggest that factors such as the vehicles being quieter and often driven by younger individuals could be contributing to the issue.
According to Phil Edwards, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, electric cars’ reduced audibility compared to traditional cars poses a safety concern for pedestrians. He emphasizes the need to address these risks as the government plans to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles.
Road accidents are a leading cause of death for children and young people in the UK, with pedestrians accounting for a significant portion of these fatalities.
Recent studies have shown that electric and hybrid cars present a higher risk to pedestrians, especially during low-speed movements, such as turning or reversing. Researchers analyzed UK travel and accident data from 2013 to 2017 and found that battery-powered cars were more dangerous in urban areas compared to rural settings.
To address the issue, new hybrid and electric cars sold in Europe since July 2019 must be equipped with an acoustic vehicle warning system. However, there are still many electric cars on the road without this feature. Experts recommend retrofitting older electric cars with this system to improve pedestrian safety.
It is crucial to understand the risks associated with electric vehicles and take necessary precautions to ensure pedestrian safety, especially in busy urban environments. Acceleration speed, weight differences, and longer stopping distances of electric cars are also factors that need to be considered to prevent accidents.
Source: www.theguardian.com
