President Obama has signed the Pedestrian Safety Act (S. 841), which aims to help protect the blind and other pedestrians from “silent vehicle technology.” This means electric vehicles must make a sound that alerts the blind and others that would benefit from hearing electric and hybrid vehicles make more noise on low-speed city streets. The new law applies not just to automobiles. It also applies to pedestrians, bicyclists, runners, and small children.
BMW is now trying to decide whether to add artificial sounds to its electric vehicles in order to make them safer and protect the pedestrians. Audi and Mercedes-Benz have already started to develop brand-specific sounds.
[Sources:
4WheelsNews/
The Car Connection]
