Study finds EVs, hybrids twice as likely to hit pedestrians, causing more fatalities

[JACK AYLMER]

HITTING A PEDESTRIAN WHILE DRIVING IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST FEARS WE HAVE WHEN GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL.

AND A NEW STUDY SAYS IT’S ACTUALLY TWICE AS LIKELY TO HAPPEN TO DRIVERS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND HYBRIDS-

POTENTIALLY LEADING TO MORE FATAL ACCIDENTS.

THE CONCLUSION WAS REACHED AFTER A REVIEW OF BRITISH ROAD ACCIDENTS-

INCLUDING 32 BILLION MILES OF EV TRAVEL, AND THREE TRILLION MILES OF GAS POWERED CAR TRIPS.

THIS LATEST RESEARCH ADDS TO PREVIOUS REPORTING SUGGESTING ELECTRIC VEHICLES MIGHT BE MORE DANGEROUS.

IN 20-17, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOUND EVS AND HYBRIDS POSE A 20-PERCENT GREATER RISK TO PEDESTRIANS.

THIS JUMPED TO 50 PERCENT HIGHER DURING LOW-SPEED MOVES, SUCH AS TURNING, REVERSING, AND PULLING TO A STOP.

THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN PARTLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE LACK OF NOISE THESE TYPES OF CARS MAKE-

LEAVING PEDESTRIANS UNAWARE OF AN APPROACHING VEHICLE.

[THE OFFICE]

“The Prius is silent if he keeps it under five miles per hour.”

[JACK AYLMER]

E-VS ALSO WEIGH A LOT MORE THAN TRADITIONAL CARS 

-SOMETHING WE’VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE AT STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS. 

THEIR BATTERIES ALONE SOMETIMES ADD UPWARDS OF 2,000 POUNDS- 

ABOUT HALF THE WEIGHT OF AN AVERAGE COMBUSTION ENGINE CAR.

BEING HIT BY A VEHICLE WITH JUST 1,000 POUNDS OF ADDITIONAL WEIGHT INCREASES THE CHANCE OF A FATALITY BY ALMOST 50 PERCENT.

FOR MORE ABOUT HOW THE EV TRANSITION IS IMPACTING ROAD SAFETY-

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