Quiet Vehicles and Pedestrian Safety

“With more than 2 million electric vehicles on U.S. roads and rising sales each year, concerns about pedestrian safety have grown. These nearly silent vehicles can pose an unexpected risk, particularly in urban areas, school zones, and parking lots.”

Pedestrian Safety

• Never assume that a vehicle isn’t around you just because you can’t hear an engine.
• Always look left and right before walking onto a street or parking lot.
• Be especially careful when walking near parking lots that have reserved spaces for hybrid and electric vehicles.
• Wear reflective or bright clothing to make yourself more visible to drivers.
• Use crosswalks whenever possible and make eye contact with drivers before crossing.
• Avoid distractions like texting or wearing noise-canceling headphones when walking near traffic.
• Be especially cautious in low-visibility conditions, such as dusk, dawn, or bad weather.

Driver Safety

• Always assume that pedestrians haven’t seen or heard you when driving in crowded areas.
• Check to see if your vehicle has safety features like automatic brakes, collision warnings or blind-spot sensors.
• Always give the right of way to pedestrians in a crosswalk.
• Discuss pedestrian safety with your teen drivers, especially if they drive a hybrid or electric vehicle.
• Honk lightly if necessary to alert distracted pedestrians who may not hear your vehicle.
• Be mindful of children and elderly pedestrians who may take longer to cross the street.

The Value of Alert Noises

According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), vehicles that travel above 18.6 mph generate enough tire and wind noise to alert any pedestrians around them. However, the DOT believes that using alert noises when these vehicles are moving under this speed will help prevent thousands of injuries every year.

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