EVs posing safety issues

EVs are posing safety issues in the Netherlands.
By MJ Woof June 30, 2020 Read time: 1 min
Electric vehicles offer environmental benefits but there are safety concerns over their quiet operation

There is concern in the Netherlands over the safety issues posed by EVs. One body, Automotive Insiders, believes that by 2030 there could be an extra 1,400 deaths/year on the road network as EVs proliferate in the country.

The key problem is that EVs are quieter in operation. Pedestrians may step out into the road without looking, relying on listening for the sound of a vehicle approaching. This is a particular issue for those with vision problems who are more reliant on hearing.

Noise generators have been suggested as a solution to the problem. Electric vehicles would be required to make a sound, alerting pedestrians to their approach.

There were 661 road deaths in the Netherlands in 2019, compared with 644 in 2018. And as EVs become more common, it is possible the situation will worsen and unless measures are taken.

Highway & Network Management

Related Content

  • Lithium ion battery prices will fall by over one third by 2017, helping drive EV adoption
    March 19, 2012
    According to a recent report from Pike Research, as manufacturing efficiencies improve and access to lithium expands, the installed cost of Li-ion batteries will fall by more than one-third by the end of 2017.
    Read More
  • Safety issues fuel interest at PIARC’s tunnel conference in Lyon
    June 4, 2019
    Alternative fuel and automated vehicle issues occupied minds at PIARC’s first international road tunnel safety conference. David Arminas reports from Lyon More than ever, tunnel management must done in a wholistic fashion, said Andre Broto, president of PIARC, the World Road Association, based in Paris. With those sentiments, Broto kicked off PIARC’s first International Conference on Tunnel Operations and Safety. One of the first speakers, Sandrine Bernabei Chinzi, head of transport infrastructure at Fr
    Read More
  • Widening works: road user’s nightmare or operator’s challenge?
    March 14, 2017
    Early - and continuous planning - is essential for successful road widening projects. By Nina Sacagiu, project manager, and Laurent Charles-Nicolas, project director, at Egis. Keeping goods and people moving safely is the primary objective of any transport authority across the world. Delivering this objective on motorways and making the most out of network capacity requires all the resources, skills and ingenuity of those in charge of managing the infrastructure. When the network can no longer cope wit
    Read More
  • Concrete barriers help to minimise accidents
    July 12, 2012
    Concrete barriers offer a highway safety solution - Mike Woof writes. Concrete safety barriers are being installed on many of Europe's major highways, particularly for use as centre lane dividers. The strength and durability of concrete barriers can help reduce the risk of cross over accidents, one of several topics raised at a conference in Brussels on concrete highway barriers organised by the European Concrete Paving Association, EUPAVE. The conference was opened by Yves Deceoene of the IRF's Belgian ex
    Read More

Highlighted Content