Introduction

Over the past few years electric vehicles have come on to the market and more are expected to be produced in the future. Green issues are high on the public agenda with environmentally friendly and eco-technologies growing in popularity.

NCBI recognises the environmental benefits of electric vehicles and we encourage the increased acceptance of greener vehicles as they play an important role in improving fuel economy and reducing emissions.

However, NCBI is concerned that the introduction of electric vehicles will have safety implications for all pedestrians, including pedestrians who are blind or vision impaired. Most people with impaired vision rely heavily on their sense of hearing when crossing roads and will use the noise of oncoming traffic as a cue for when it is safe to cross a road. Therefore, there is a greater risk for pedestrians who are blind or vision impaired from an electric vehicle due to the fact that it does not produce any noise.

Orientation and mobility training offer pedestrians with impaired vision guidance on safe travel techniques. One of these techniques is to listen to the sound of a vehicle’s engine to establish its movement and speed when there are no other safety features provided, such as audio tactile pedestrian crossing points.

Using sound to indicate the location of a vehicle

To interact accurately with the environment, especially those elements involving vehicle movement, vehicles need to indicate not only their location, but also:

• how far they are away from the person perceiving them,
• their speed relative to the environmental conditions,
• their state in terms of acceleration or deceleration and
• the type and size of the vehicle.

Traditional combustion engines have a distinct sound. This is familiar to most pedestrians, who can detect its presence and at the same time estimate its type and size. Therefore any sound generated by an electric vehicle needs to be distinctive in its presence as a vehicle, along with its speed of travel, distance away and its type and size.

Any sound generated to indicate the presence of an electric vehicle must be discernible in a wide range of environmental conditions – from the quietest country lane to the busiest town centre.

It is helpful for pedestrians to know when vehicles are waiting at traffic lights. If an electric vehicle is stationary at a crossing, can it be heard? This could be important at times when the vehicle is just about to accelerate at speed.

There is a genuine need to generate greater understanding and awareness of the impact of these vehicles on pedestrian safety.

Research into the dangers of electric vehicles

Research from the University of California shows that, in some instances, pedestrians only have one second to audibly identify the presence of an approaching electric vehicle when operating at very slow speed. Findings also proved that electric vehicles must be 60% closer to pedestrians than combustion-engine vehicles for their location to be distinguished audibly.

Consultation with the motor industry

There are concerns that vehicle manufacturers could be eager to have their own unique sounds for their brand, which could result in the provision of multiple sounds creating a lot of confusion for pedestrians.

The European Blind Union (EBU) has consulted two leading car manufacturers, Nissan and Renault, to find out what they are doing in terms of provision of audio sounds in their electric vehicles. Nissan gave the EBU a demonstration of sounds incorporated in their first generation electric cars to be launched in Europe, Japan and the United States in the coming months. Three sounds have been integrated into the vehicle in consultation with United States National Federation of the Blind and the blindness organizations in Japan: a start-up sound, a slow running sound as the vehicle starts up and accelerates or as it slows down or decelerates and when the vehicle is reversing.

Renault however demonstrated a number of sound-combinations to the EBU. They have yet to decide on the exact sounds to be used.

The EBU has concluded that considerable work and trial still needs to be undertaken by both these manufacturers to ensure that a distinct audible sound(s) is chosen and that a standardisation of sound(s) be devised.

Public charging units – potential tripping hazard

The location of public charging units for electric vehicles is another concern for pedestrians. It is vital that local authorities ensure that the design and location of public charging points, where cables are run across footways between homes and vehicles, does not cause a tripping hazard for pedestrians and in particular pedestrians with sight problems.

International Perspective

United States

The United States have embraced the issue of pedestrian safety with the introduction of the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Bill, 2009. Under this Bill, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, blindness organizations and automobile manufacturers will, over the next 18 month, be setting a minimum noise level standard and determining which sounds will be permitted. There will also be a recommendation that the sound should occur automatically and be standardised by automakers and dealers. The motor industry will then have to implement these regulatory requirements into their new vehicles within a certain timeframe.

Japan

The Japanese government is also drawing up legislation to make electric cars emit a sound. A Ministry of Transport panel is working on guidelines for a minimum noise level for such vehicles and has invited ideas from the public for a standard warning noise.

United Kingdom

The UK Department of Transport are commissioning research which will gather statistics on accidents involving electric vehicles with pedestrians who are blind or vision impaired. These statistics will be used to compare the noise characteristic of an electric vehicle and a vehicle fitted with an internal combustion engine. The findings will inform the Department about what sort of sound should be fitted to electric vehicles, for example.

Guide Dogs UK and the Royal National Institute for the Blind are already working with manufacturers, for example, Lotus Engineering, in order to develop an external sound technology for use in electric vehicles.

The Irish Perspective

On the 12 April 2010, the Irish Government announced that they are partnering with ESB and an alliance between Renault-Nissan in order to position Ireland as a European leader in electric transport. This includes the development of a nationwide electric car charging infrastructure by ESB, the supply of electric cars by the Renault-Nissan Alliance from 2011, as well as Government policies and incentives to facilitate the widespread use of such vehicles. Those who purchase electric cars can avail of a €5,000 grant and a VRT exemption from the Irish Government.

Nissan will be supplying its new electric hatchback, LEAF, to Ireland in early 2011 and Renault will launch its light commercial electric vehicle, Kangoo Z.E., later in the year.

The Irish Government aims to achieve its target of 10% of Ireland’s vehicles being electric by 2020 and the Nissan-Renault partnership aims to see 2,000 cars on Irish roads by 2011.

NCBI was delighted to read in the Irish Times on 23 June 2010 that Nissan is installing a noise in its new electric car, Leaf. Although, these efforts are to be commended, we are very concerned that Nissan will be offering the driver a facility to deactivate the noise, which in effect removes a fundamental safety feature for all pedestrians.

NCBI Recommendations

NCBI calls on the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to take the lead within Europe by implementing standards similar to those being set in the United States. Legislation should be introduced which obliges vehicle manufacturers to adopt external sound technologies that have minimum noise level criterion and emit a certain standardised sound.

NCBI also recommends that the Department run awareness and education campaigns targeting:

• People who are blind and vision impaired as well as others who might have difficulties with mobility.
• Drivers of electric/hybrid vehicles to make them aware of the additional issues that these vehicles can pose for people who are blind and vision impaired as well as others with mobility issues.

Conclusion

NCBI is not requesting major changes to the design of vehicles but simply an increase in their audibility. The benefits of an external sound technology to alert pedestrians to the presence of electric vehicles increases pedestrian safety and at the same time, retains vehicles environmental benefits.