Hybrids and EVs Dangerously Quiet Making Safer New Cars

Hybrids Making More Noise for Safety

Harry Lloyd

It's quiet, too quiet

There's nothing quite like the thunderous roar of a high performance engine to send chills up your spine. While some people can't get enough of the noise, many people prefer their cars to be quiet, comfortable rides. Some cars have gotten so good at being quiet; it could be a bad thing.

Studies are confirming that some new hybrid and electric vehicles are so quiet it can be difficult to hear them coming, especially for vision impaired pedestrians, children and cyclists. These studies claim that while traveling at speeds under 35 mph, these vehicles are 37% more likely to strike pedestrians and up to 66% more likely to strike cyclists.

Make some noise

By 2017, every car will be federally mandated to make a certain amount of noise. It may sound absurd at first, but it is actually nothing new. The whole concept of sleigh bells was implemented in crowded cities to prevent pedestrians from being trampled by horse and carriage.

The new noise regulations are not entirely clear yet, and most automakers are not implementing noise making systems just yet. The Toyota Prius has an optional noise maker that gets louder to correspond with how fast you're going, and sounds a lot like a cartoonish future car.

It's speculated that using familiar engine sounds from louder cars may be the best idea to make safer new cars, since people are already so familiar with the noise. Can you imagine a Ford Focus Electric roaring like it was a Ford Mustang GT? It's a little comical to think about, but there is no denying its potential to save lives.

Making safer vehicles is about more than just packing the car full of air bags and cameras. As technology continues to advance and change the kinds of cars we drive, auto makers need to be on top of the latest trends to make the road safer for everyone.

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