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New Bill Requires Sound Regulations for Hybrids

On April 9, 2008, a new bill was introduced to the United States Congress which is intended to protect pedestrians from the dangers of newer, quieter cars.

The new legislation will require the Secretary of Transportation to establish new safety requirements regarding the amount of noise that vehicles, especially hybrids, make during operation. The new regulations will include a standardized audible alert for pedestrians that are nearby.

The bill was submitted due to concerns that blind or distracted pedestrians may not be able to hear a quiet car approaching. It intends to limit any possibility of a pedestrian related car wreck due to quiet vehicles.

With the development of new technology, vehicles have become much quieter over the last decade. With the advent of hybrid cars, there is a possible danger toward blind pedestrians. When traveling at low speeds, hybrids run on electric motors, which are significantly quieter than the traditional internal combustion engines.

The quieter engines pose a risk whenever the vehicle is in a situation in which pedestrians are in the vicinity, such as when emerging from a driveway or driving through a parking lot.

The legislation was pushed by the National Federation of the Blind, who campaigns to raise awareness of the danger of hybrid vehicles to people who rely on their hearing while crossing the street.

Although there has not been a particular instance of someone being hit by a quit car, the National Federation of the Blind relates that it is a danger. An ongoing study at the University of California, Riverside indicates that there is a risk associated with quit vehicles.

The study indicates that hybrid vehicles operating at slower speeds need to be at least 40 percent closer to pedestrians than combustion-engine vehicles in order for the car to make enough audible noise to be detected by pedestrians.

The bill calls for a two year study to take place in which the Department of Transportation will determine possible safety solutions before standardized regulations are submitted.

If a pedestrian is injured due to a lack of vehicle crashworthiness, the auto manufacturer may be liable. Car wreck attorneys are working to make sure that car manufacturers are held responsible for their products.