Cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/20086798

During 2013–2017, casualty rates per 100 million miles were 5.16 (95% CI 4.92 to 5.42) for E- HE vehicles and 2.40 (95%CI 2.38 to 2.41) for ICE vehicles, indicating that collisions were twice as likely (RR 2.15; 95% CI 2.05 to 2.26) with E-HE vehicles. Poisson regression found no evidence that E-HE vehicles were more dangerous in rural environments (RR 0.91; 95% CI 0.74 to 1.11); but strong evidence that E-HE vehicles were three times more dangerous than ICE vehicles in urban environments (RR 2.97; 95% CI 2.41 to 3.7). Sensitivity analyses of missing data support main findings.

  • “Pedestrian safety on the road to net zero: cross-sectional study of collisions with electric and hybrid-electric cars in Great Britain”. Phil J Edwards, Siobhan Moore, Craig Higgins. 2024-05-21. J Epidemiol Community Health.
  • [PDF] (archive)
    • Kalcifer@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
      312·
      6 months ago

      One plausible explanation for our results is that background ambient noise levels differ between urban and rural areas, causing electric vehicles to be less audible to pedestrians in urban areas. Such differences may impact on safety because pedestrians usually hear traffic approaching and take care to avoid any collision, which is more difficult if they do not hear electric vehicles.

      • then_three_more@lemmy.worldEnglish
        222·
        6 months ago

        That doesn’t make much sense. ICE vehicles have got so quiet, especially at low speeds, that most of the noise is tyre noise.

        There were far fewer models of electric and and h-ev cars being available during the time of they’ve taken their data from (7 to 11 years ago now) than ICE and even compared to how many there are now. Therefore it’s entirely possible that an issue with a particular model (for example visibility issues caused by a pillar blindspots) could skew the results.

        It would be interesting to see if they can get the same results with 2019-2024 data.

        • Kalcifer@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
          73·
          6 months ago

          That doesn’t make much sense. ICE vehicles have got so quiet, especially at low speeds, that most of the noise is tyre noise.

          What doesn’t make sense? The point that you just stated was precisely the motivation for the study — there was a concern that EVs and H-EVs are too quiet to be safely perceived by pedestrians.

          There were far fewer models of electric and and h-ev cars being available during the time of they’ve taken their data from (7 to 11 years ago now) than ICE and even compared to how many there are now. Therefore it’s entirely possible that an issue with a particular model (for example visibility issues caused by a pillar blindspots) could skew the results.

          In the “Strengths and weaknesses of the study” section of the paper, they touched on the age of the data being a weakness. In addition to the concern that you pointed out, there are also new regulations that have been put in place to mitigate these issues — e.g. the NHTSA mandates that cars have a minimum amount of sound that they must emit [source].

          It would be interesting to see if they can get the same results with 2019-2024 data.

          Agreed.

      • Technus@lemmy.zipEnglish
        9·
        6 months ago

        This is why I want an electric car that makes a jet turbine noise like the cars do in sci-fi movies.

        • Takios@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
          121·
          6 months ago

          EVs being quieter than ICE cars is a blessing imho. I’m not completely against having them emit additional sound for safety but please let it still be quieter than an ICE.

        • Kalcifer@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
          112·
          6 months ago

          Anecdotally, I’ve heard some newer EVs emit a sort of whirring sound when they are moving slowly to alert pedestrians.

          • robolemmy@lemmy.worldEnglish
            11·
            6 months ago

            It’s mandatory in the US but they all make various weird noises that don’t sound like cars.

          • Technus@lemmy.zipEnglish
            43·
            6 months ago

            I have heard this as well. IMO it’s much too quiet still. I want like, an actual jet engine whine but at maybe 65-70 decibels.

            • snooggumsEnglish
              92·
              6 months ago

              No thanks, electric vehicles being quiet is a bonus.

              Now if they had the forward sensors made a moderate lebel honking noise when a potential collision with a oedestrian is detected, that would be great.

              • Kalcifer@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
                41·
                6 months ago

                No thanks, electric vehicles being quiet is a bonus.

                Now if they had the forward sensors made a moderate lebel honking noise when a potential collision with a oedestrian is detected, that would be great.

                Personally, I’m not bothered by the sounds that EVs emit at slow speeds (the minimum sound is required by the NHTSA) — I think they even sound kind of cool. I do agree that collision detection is also useful. I would argue for a combination of mulitple safety systems. That being said, I do completely understand the noise pollution concerns of vehicles; however, given that the sounds are only emited at very low speeds — IIUC, these sounds are intended match the sound pressure generated by a vehicle travelling at 30kmph — it shouldn’t be too much of a problem; I believe that it is worth the benefit.

        • snooggumsEnglish
          10·
          6 months ago

          I’ve never been struck by a cat in a crosswalk so this suggestion checks out.

        • Kalcifer@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
          71·
          6 months ago

          Some newer ones do emit a sound when moving slow. I’ve never looked into it to find their actual rationale — I’ve always presumed that it was for pedestrian safety.

      • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.netEnglish
        21·
        6 months ago

        Damn that is a huge effect size… I am shocked, especially given safety features that now exist on newer cars (unless they normalized for car age).

        • Windex007@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          6 months ago

          I’m not shocked at all. I’ve almost been hit like 3 times in parking lots by silent EVs.

          As a pedestrian, I was certainly unaware at how much I relied on my hearing to generate my situational awareness around cars. Each time, the driver wasn’t doing anything out of the ordinary, either.

          Honestly, as the pedestrian in this scenario, I’d rather the vehicle cue me on where it is and what it’s doing than give the driver another sensor to ignore. Give me as the pedestrian some tools to work with. Let me be involved.

          It doesn’t have to be as loud as a big diesel truck. A ford focus is fine.

        • Kalcifer@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
          21·
          6 months ago

          especially given safety features that now exist on newer cars

          Do note that the dataset that they used is from 2013-2017.