The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tells Automotive News the agency will propose a study on the perils to pedestrians of super-quiet electric and hybrid vehicles.
At a public hearing in Washington, D.C., yesterday, groups representing blind people noted that such vehicles are “invisible” to them and urged NHTSA to impose minimum noise requirements.
But attendees note the issue is complicated, in part because noises produced by vehicles come from several sources, such as tires and exhaust systems. Most concur that a useful solution won’t be easy to find.
