A proposed bill in California could require new cars to alert drivers of speeding, while research shows electric and hybrid cars pose higher risks to pedestrians due to quieter engines and heavier weight. Measures aim to enhance road safety and reduce accidents.
California Legislation: Car Alerts for Speeding
California is considering a bill that would mandate new cars, starting in 2032, to alert drivers when exceeding the speed limit by at least 10 mph. The initiative aims to reduce traffic fatalities and follows similar regulations in the European Union. Authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener, the proposal narrowly passed its first state Senate vote on May 21, 2024.
The bill faces opposition, with critics like Republican state Sen. Brian Dahle citing concerns over driver autonomy in emergencies. If passed, the law could influence nationwide car manufacturing standards due to California’s significant auto market. The proposed technology, known as intelligent speed assistance, would use GPS to compare vehicle speed against a dataset of speed limits, emitting visual and audio signals when limits are exceeded.
The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration reported that 10% of car crashes in 2021 were due to speeding, with California having the second-highest rate of speed-related traffic fatalities in the U.S.
Electric and Hybrid Cars and Pedestrian Safety
Research from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine highlights that pedestrians are twice as likely to be hit by electric or hybrid cars compared to petrol or diesel vehicles, and three times more likely in urban areas. The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, analyzed UK road traffic data from 2013 to 2017.
The heightened risk may be attributed to electric cars’ quieter engines and the tendency of their typically younger drivers to be less experienced. Electric vehicles are also generally heavier, which can increase stopping distances. Since 2019, new electric and hybrid vehicles in Europe must have acoustic alerting systems, but many existing cars lack these features.
Researchers recommend mandatory installation of sound-emitting devices in all electric vehicles and updating pedestrian safety guidelines to mitigate risks as governments promote the transition to electric cars.