Electric cars are often perceived as the primary transition to green mobility. However, recent research shows that there are high chances of pedestrians getting hit by electric cars than gas or petrol cars.
A shocking study finds pedestrians getting hit more by electric or hybrid cars compared to gasoline or diesel cars. This scenario is particularly more prevalent in cities. The study highlighted the casualty rates reported in Great Britain from 2013 to 2017. Researchers theorize the heightened risk could be due to electric vehicles being less audible in noisier urban environments.
Presently, governments are banning or reducing the production of fuel engine vehicles to reduce pollution. Various incentives and rebates are introduced to encourage more and more people to shift from fuel/gas cars to EVs. But the need to bring more protective measures considering the pedestrians was neglected.
Results: Analysis of the Study and Mortality Rates
- Road accident data of Great Britain – 120,197 pedestrian casualties in reported road collisions between 2013-2017.
- Pedestrians involved in the accident with cars/taxis – 74% involved gasoline/diesel while only 2% involved electric/hybrid.
- The average pedestrian mortality rate (Per 100 million miles) – 5.16 (95% CI 4.92 to 5.42) in electric or hybrid vehicles and 2.40 (95% CI 2.38 to 2.41) for gasoline/diesel vehicles.
- Urban areas – Higher percentage of accidents occurred by electric/hybrid vehicles than in gasoline/diesel vehicles with 94% and 88%.
- Electric/hybrid vehicles reported an increased risk of 3 times in the urban environment than in the rural environment.
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“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,” says the researchers.
The researchers emphasize that, “From a public health perspective, our results should not discourage active forms of transport beneficial to health, such as walking and cycling; rather they can be used to ensure that any potential increased traffic injury risks are understood and safeguarded against.”
Countries are banning petrol and diesel cars to meet the net-zero goal as soon as possible. Thus, researchers conclude that high chances of pedestrians getting hit by electric cars and hybrids has to be addressed.
