U.S. to Introduce EV Minimum Sound Standard

Several U.S. and international organizations have recently agreed on proposed legislative language that will protect blind pedestrians and others from the threat represented by silent vehicle technology.

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the American Council of the Blind (ACB), the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM), and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM) are urging Congress to adopt and pass the language as part of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010 as quickly as possible.

The proposed language would require the Department of Transportation to promulgate a motor vehicle safety standard requiring automobiles to emit a minimum level of sound to alert the blind, who cannot locate and evaluate traffic using their vision and must listen to traffic in order to travel safely and independently. The new initiative would also help other pedestrians who benefit from hearing the sound of vehicle engines.

“The National Federation of the Blind commends the automobile industry for its leadership on this issue and for its genuine concern for the safety of blind Americans, cyclists, runners, small children, and other pedestrians. We look forward to working with the parties to this agreement, the United States Congress, and the Department of Transportation to ensure that America's streets remain safe, both for those who drive and for those who do not," said Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind.

"Good policy is a collaborative effort, and this is a good approach for pedestrians and automakers," said Dave McCurdy, President and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently issued a report showing that hybrid and electric vehicles have a double risk of being involved in accidents with pedestrians, compared to vehicles that only use internal combustion engines.