The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Monday proposed that the alternative vehicles should meet minimum sound standards in order to help make all pedestrians more aware of the approaching vehicles.
Ford Focus Electric.DETROIT, MI- A branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing that hybrid and electric vehicles should make more noise to prevent thousands of injuries.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Monday proposed that the alternative vehicles should meet minimum sound standards in order to help make all pedestrians more aware of the approaching vehicles.
The agency estimates that the new noise would prevent 2,800 pedestrian and cyclist injuries during the life of each model year of the vehicles.
"Safety is our highest priority, and this proposal will help keep everyone using our nation's streets and roadways safe, whether they are motorists, bicyclists or pedestrians, and especially the blind and visually impaired," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a statement.
(Listen:What sound should electric vehicles make?)
Electric and hybrid vehicles are quieter than traditional gas or diesel-powered engines at low speeds, which some would consider a plus. However, the proposed standard, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 141 would require the cars to make additional noise at speeds under 18 miles per hour.
Each automaker would have a “significant range of choices,” according to NHTSA, about the sounds it chooses for its vehicles, but the characteristics of those sounds would need to meet certain minimum requirements.
NHTSA said it would send the proposal out Monday. The public will have 60 days to submit comments on the proposal.
Some automakers, such as Ford Motor Co. have already investigated what it would like its electric vehicles to sound like.
In 2011, the Dearborn-based automaker sought input from Facebook fans as it considers noise options for its upcoming Focus Electric. The automaker posted audio of four potential sounds and is even asking fans to help define the sound by choosing their favorite adjective, such as futuristic, precise, refined or responsive.
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