NHTSA Proposes Policy Requiring Sound Devices on Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

Jan. 9, 2013

Car manufacturers have long strived to make a quiet vehicle, but they may now be facing the opposite problem. According to Truckinginfo.com, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has suggested that all hybrid and electric vehicles, which create little to no sound when running, meet a minimum decibel level to help alert pedestrians and other motorists of the vehicle’s presence.

Under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.141 of the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010, every car manufacturer would be responsible for installing a device that emits a sound detectable to others when the vehicle travels less than 18 mph. Officials estimate that the the devices could potentially eliminate as many as 2,800 pedestrian and cyclist injuries throughout the lifespan of each make and model receiving the technology. Many believe if one Pedestrian Accident is eliminated, the units are worth their cost.

A number of companies have already jumped on board by installing devices on vehicles at a cost of around $30 per unit. Those looking to purchase a Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf, or the Toyota Prius can get a vehicle equipped with the new sound emission technology.

The Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyers with William Mattar Law Offices are hopeful the new technology will find success in better protecting the safety of both the drivers of electric or hybrid vehicles and the others who share the road with hybrid electric vehicles.