I see that road deaths have sharply increased since there introduction it would appear that blind and partially blind people even with tha assistance of there dogs are falling to these silent killers.They are presently lobbying goverment to make manufacturers build in some form of warning noise when they are silent running.

As always one step forlward two steps back saves the owners money costs the state thousands for each fatal.

I personally would ban them until they make an approaching noise like an attacking spitfire.

Is there any actual basis in fact for this, or is just a myth?

I don't remember piles of blind people's corpses at the roadside.

I see that road deaths have sharply increased since there introduction it would appear that blind and partially blind people even with tha assistance of there dogs are falling to these silent killers.They are presently lobbying goverment to make manufacturers build in some form of warning noise when they are silent running.

As always one step forlward two steps back saves the owners money costs the state thousands for each fatal.

I personally would ban them until they make an approaching noise like an attacking spitfire.

Do you have a source for this information?

Sent to my email address by the blind association who are gathering signatures to present to Goverment.they have got this information from the department of transport I guess if I can retrieve the email which I have deleted I will post but I beleive the figures quoted was 30%increase but that's from memory.

Just researched online EU rules say all hybrid/electric and electric cars must be fitted with sound equipment to warn other road users of there presence.This will probably only apply to new cars,have a look under blind persons campaign re electric cars.

Dont seem to see piles of deaf/hard of hearing people piled by the road side

 

Driving the wifes Prius you do get people walking out in front of you* , they start to cross before even looking in your direction, they arent blind , just stupid to too busy looking at their phones, you cant legislate against stupidity its Darwinism in action

 

PS What about cyclists ?

 

*The Prius like many hybrids already has a noise generator but not for the UK market , there are issues with these needing to be switch able like reverse bleepers on trucks so you can drive at night

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_vehicle_warning_sounds

The percentage of the general population that have hearing difficulties and the percentages of electric cars on the road are both small enough that there's no way there's been a 30% increase.

In fact, it looks like we're down 50% in ten years - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reported_Road_Casualties_Great_Britain#Annual_summary

The percentage of the general population that have hearing difficulties and the percentages of electric cars on the road are both small enough that there's no way there's been a 30% increase.

In fact, it looks like we're down 50% in ten years - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reported_Road_Casualties_Great_Britain#Annual_summary

yep as backed up here

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-road-fatalities

Electric cars and indeed all cars have a sound making device to warn others. It's called a horn

The percentage of the general population that have hearing difficulties and the percentages of electric cars on the road are both small enough that there's no way there's been a 30% increase.

In fact, it looks like we're down 50% in ten years - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reported_Road_Casualties_Great_Britain#Annual_summary

 

Though first indications are that the figure for 2014 will be higher than 2013.  Following a long period of steady decrease it's not unknown to get a bit of a bounce back, though.

 

I seem to recall that some years ago when some experimental electric busses were being introduced in Leeds City Centre there was a big debate about the sound they should make.  The sound of trotting horses got a lot of support.

yep as backed up here

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-road-fatalities

 

These figures show that there's nothing like a recession to bring down the road casualty figures sharply, works every time.

The whining noise can be disabled by the driver.

I imagine a lot drivers do this. On a Nisssn Leaf the noise is quite unpleasant at low speeds.

PS What about cyclists ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_vehicle_warning_sounds

Oh they don't count as they cause no harm to anything....environment or animals.

I've read that they have fitted sound boxes to some electric/hybrid cars to help warn people of their approach.

If I was blind I'm fairly sure I'd cross at a crossing. If I was deaf then what difference would a sound box make anyway?

Also if blind they would either have a dog or a stick....either way it should alert the drive to take extra care.

Still I will so find out come September when I get my hybrid.

The whining noise can be disabled by the driver.

I imagine a lot drivers do this. On a Nisssn Leaf the noise is quite unpleasant at low speeds.

 

I believe the noise switches off after 20mph.

 

Problem in the UK is the law.

As said further up the thread the louder sounds we don't get here.

 

In the six months and 10,000 miles I had my LEAF I almost ran over three people.

Mostly because they were wandering around in the road and the lack of noise doesn't seem to generate the same self preservation instinct in humans.

Apparently the manufacturers have five years to implement these eu proposals.

Joking aside it will be done mainly because of cost,as I have stated a fatality does not matter to the state but the overall cost of all the departments that has to deal with a road death does,I don't have any view on the topic really other than I was emailed to give a signature on the subject.

Interestingly the people acting for the blind make no mention of these electric buggies scooters that the invalid fraternity bomb around on the footpath with, oblivious to pedestrian,cars emerging from drives etc.

We can moan all we like but the eu loves rules that's all they have to do isn't,t it for there big fat pay cheques.

I don't believe there's been a sharp increase in fatalities due to electric cars although I can see it being an issue as I found rather quickly when I started regularly cycling that many pedestrians do go by noise and would step out in front of the bike without looking.

 

We obviously need hybrids to sound more like this:

 

 

John