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According to recent research, pedestrians are at a greater risk of being struck by electric or hybrid cars than those powered by petrol or diesel. The study, which underwent peer review and was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, examined road casualty statistics within the UK from 2013 to 2017.
Findings from the study have shown that the likelihood of electric and hybrid vehicles being involved in pedestrian accidents is twice that of petrol or diesel vehicles. The incidence rate is even higher in urban areas, being threefold more probable compared to rural regions.
Looking into 916,713 recorded incidents that involved pedestrian injuries, it was found that the average yearly pedestrian casualty rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was 5.16 for electric and hybrid vehicles, as opposed to 2.40 for petrol and diesel vehicles. These findings covered 32 billion miles of electric/hybrid vehicle travel and 3 trillion miles of petrol/diesel vehicle travel.
The study emphasized the impact of road injuries on mortality rates, being the most common cause of deaths among children and young people. It also pointed out that pedestrians make up one quarter of all road fatalities.
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The researchers attributed the heightened risk specifically to the relative silence of electric and hybrid vehicles, which can be significantly harder to hear for pedestrians, especially in noisy urban settings. Additionally, they noted the potential correlation between inexperienced younger drivers being both more prone to accidents and more likely to drive an electric vehicle.
The study summarized that while more people are injured by petrol and diesel cars, electric cars represent a higher risk to pedestrians, with urban environments showing a higher incidence rate.
Despite the findings, the study authors advocated for continued support of walking and cycling for their health benefits, highlighting the need to understand and mitigate any increased risks linked to traffic injury.
In light of the growing push to transition away from petrol and diesel cars, the research calls for measures to address the increased safety risks posed by electric and hybrid vehicles. While acknowledging limitations such as a lack of data post-2017 due to technical issues with the National Travel Survey (NTS), the study’s conclusions are aimed at informing policy for improved pedestrian safety. The Department for Transport has been approached by Sky News for their input on this issue.
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FAQs about Electric Vehicle Pedestrian Safety
- Why might electric and hybrid vehicles be more dangerous to pedestrians?
Electric and hybrid vehicles are generally quieter than petrol or diesel cars, making them harder for pedestrians to hear, especially in busy urban areas.
- Are there any specific locations where these accidents are more frequent?
The study found that pedestrian accidents involving electric and hybrid vehicles are three times more likely to occur in urban areas than in rural ones.
- How significant is the difference in pedestrian casualty rates between electric/hybrid and petrol/diesel vehicles?
The pedestrian casualty rate per 100 million miles traveled is 5.16 for electric/hybrid vehicles compared to 2.40 for petrol and diesel vehicles.
- Is walking and cycling still encouraged despite these findings?
Yes, the researchers advocate for walking and cycling due to their health benefits, while emphasizing the importance of mitigating traffic injury risks.
- What is the response of the Department for Transport regarding these findings?
Sky News has reached out to the Department for Transport for their comments but has not yet received a response.
Conclusion
The recent study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health has raised significant concerns regarding pedestrian safety in relation to electric and hybrid vehicles. The research clearly indicates that these vehicles pose a greater risk to pedestrians compared to traditional petrol and diesel cars, particularly in urban areas. While the study should not dissuade the public from engaging in active transportation, such as walking and cycling, it does underscore the need for greater awareness and preventive measures to protect pedestrians as societies move towards cleaner transportation technologies. Future policy-making and vehicle design must account for these findings to ensure the transition to electric vehicles does not come at the cost of public safety.
