New study: Pedestrians three times as likely to be hit by an EV driver than a regular driver

American Thinker ^ | 24 May, 2024 | Olivia Murray

[MtnClimber]

Murphy’s Law, or anything that can go wrong will go wrong, certainly sounds like it’s at play with all things “green” agenda. Think you’ve seen the extent of the damage? Well think again, because things seem to always just go from bad to worse.

According to a new study out of the United Kingdom, drivers behind the wheel of electric vehicles/hybrid-electric (“E-HE”) vehicles prove to be more than twice as likely to hit a pedestrian than drivers behind the wheel of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, overall. But, when in urban settings, E-HE vehicles were “three times more dangerous” than ICE vehicles. Here’s this, from the study’s results:

During 2013–2017, casualty rates per 100 million miles were 5.16 … for E-HE vehicles and 2.40 … for ICE vehicles, indicating that collisions were twice as likely … with E-HE vehicles.

Poisson regression found no evidence that E-HE vehicles were more dangerous in rural environments … but strong evidence that E-HE vehicles were three times more dangerous than ICE vehicles in urban environments….

Of course, one can speculate that perhaps the reason E-HE vehicles were not found to be more dangerous in rural areas is probably because there are almost no E-HE vehicles in rural areas—impractical, expensive, hypocritical status symbol cars are typically a city slicker leftie purchase, not a car that rural people typically choose.

[dartuser]

Yes, along with the additional weight of an EV ... they are very heavy and thus their momentum would be higher. Need more force to stop something with higher momentum.

But I believe your point is the primary one ...

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Doesn’t say much about EV drivers.

I guess we can make EV driver jokes.

[coloradan]

Assault vehicles should be banned.

[Safrguns]

Maybe this is because EVs are 3 times as heavy... therefore 3 times as likely for the brakes to fail... and 3 times as likely to barrel right through barriers that would normally stop a gas powered car.

OR... maybe it’s simply because the pedestrians cannot hear them coming.

[redfreedom]

You have a good point. Many people walk mindlessly staring down at their device while texting or whatever they are doing with them. They are not watching where they are going. If they hear a vehicle, they probably stop.

EV’s are pretty much silent. Those mindless wonders don’t hear them and get whacked.

[bert]

Balderdascious drivel

[albie]

I think it’s because EV drivers are preoccupied with texting and staring at their gps while driving.

[Vermont Lt]

They sound like golf carts. I can see why people not familiar with the sound would hear them coming up from a blind spot.

[Thomas Jerome]

Another BS story. Hybrid cars have engines and make a loud “wine” when the move on electric power. Where do these people come up with this nonsense?

[P.O.E.]

Almost got hit by one a few years back - it was turning the corner onto the street I was crossing, and I didn’t hear it coming.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

We have a huge number of EVs here in Silicon Valley. My experience is the drivers love to flog their cars all the time. They love the high acceleration and use it very aggressively, dashing from stop sign to stop sign. If I obey the 25 mph limit in town, the EV drivers generally go nuts, tailgating and moving left and right to look past me. When I see one of those impatient people behind me, I enjoy driving a steady 24 mph and coming to a FULL stop at stop signs to make them even crazier

My hypothesis is that rich Type A crazy impatient types (“I own the world — get out of my way!) are attracted to EVs.

[Liaison]

So besides not hearing the cars, was it noted that the rich, entitled drivers that changed from their Volvos, Audis, and BMWs to electrics are still obnoxious, oblivious, and crappy drivers?

[SharpRightTurn]

“impractical, expensive, hypocritical status symbol cars are typically a city slicker leftie purchase”

This gal has a way with words to make her point, cutting right to the chase.

[libertylover]

I wonder if the cause is that pedestrians don’t hear the EV.

That does make sense. Also, I wonder how many EV cars were on auto-pilot which didn't detect the pedestrian in time.

[CottonBall]

Exactly. Apparently our Bolt it’s made to admit some kind of sound in order to warn pedestrians. However it doesn’t sound anything like an engine and it is somewhat Pleasant, so I’m sure pedestrians have no clue what it means.

[logi_cal869]

...an inherent built in safety flaw that no one has ever addressed.

Actually, they have, and it's not just EVs. Ironically, when my parents got their first Toyota hybrid, we thought it had a problem. I swore it was something with the power steering; now I know better (but I'm not addressing my opinion here).

The Silent But Deadly Solution: Electric Vehicles Need To Make More Noise. Tesla Has Some Ideas.

The technology even has a name: VSP (Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians). Unfortunately, there is not yet any standard.

Here's what some electric vehicles will sound like to warn pedestrians

[9YearLurker]

I think pretty much everyone gets that at this point, though the article should have stated it.

[V_TWIN]

Better late than never I guess.

Way back in 2011 there was a movie called “The Dilemma”. Part of the plot was Kevin James and Vince Vaughn pitching an electric motor to Chrysler that has an audible exhaust noise that mimics an internal combustion engine......so 13 years ago even hollywood realized it was a problem.

[Eagles6]

Exactly.

[fuzzylogic]

Well...while it has been addressed, EV’s are required to make noise, especially at low speeds. That said, I don’t think they make enough noise, or at least a noise that invokes a ‘danger’ response by pedestrians.