Skip to main content

NHTSA urged to strike a balance on hybrid and EV sound requirements

In its comments to the National Highway Traffic Safety administration's (NHTSA) proposed rule to add sound to hybrid and electric vehicles, Global Automakers is asking the agency to find a noise level that effectively alerts pedestrians without being excessively loud. "Striking a balance is important," said Michael Cammisa, director of safety for Global Automakers, which represents international motor vehicle manufacturers, original equipment suppliers, and other automotive-related trade associations. "W
March 18, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
In its  comments  to the 834 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) proposed rule to add sound to hybrid and electric vehicles, Global Automakers is asking the agency to find a noise level that effectively alerts pedestrians without being excessively loud.   

"Striking a balance is important," said Michael Cammisa, director of safety for Global Automakers, which represents international motor vehicle manufacturers, original equipment suppliers, and other automotive-related trade associations. "While we support the intent of the regulation to assist pedestrians, we have concerns that the current proposal may lead to alert sounds that are excessively and unnecessarily noisy to others inside and outside of the vehicle."

In 2010, Global Automakers worked with lawmakers, the National Federation of the Blind, the American Council of the Blind, and other auto industry groups on the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act which directed NHTSA to undertake this rule-making, which is intended to assist pedestrians in identifying the presence of hybrid and electric vehicles by requiring automakers to add sound to these quiet cars.

"As hybrid and electric cars have become more widespread, some of our members have already added noise alerts to these vehicles," said Cammisa.  "We look forward to continuing to work with NHTSA and other stakeholders to improve these requirements before they are finalised."

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • New legal basis brings EU wide cross border enforcement
    February 25, 2015
    Pan-EU enforcement is set to become a reality after legislation is revised. In May 2014 the European Court of Justice ruled that European Directive 2011/82/EU, which came into force in November 2013 to facilitate the exchange of information between member states in relation to eight road traffic offences, had been set up on an incorrect legal basis. The regulations had been introduced under police cooperation rules on the prevention of crime, but the Court decided that the measures in the Directive do not c
  • Road user charging - replacing the gas tax with a mileage based fee
    January 19, 2012
    Oregon Department of Transportation's James Whitty discusses his state's progress with VMT fee-based charging. Back in 2001, the state of Oregon stole a lead on the rest of the US when it decided to address the need to do something about the gas tax and its decreasing ability to fund highway construction and upkeep. Recognising that a dwindling pot of money could only shrink further as vehicles became more fuelefficient, Oregon's Legislative Assembly passed laws which led to the setting up, by the state's g
  • Brigade launches QVS sound system for hybrid and EVs
    June 17, 2019
    Electronic vehicles (EVs) are a technical marvel – but vulnerable road users (VRUs) can’t hear them, which creates obvious safety problems. Brigade Electronics says help is at hand with its Quiet Vehicle Sounder (QVS), a speaker system which the company says reduces collisions between pedestrians and hybrids and EVs. The QVS, also known as an acoustic vehicle alerting system, simulates the sound characteristics of an internal combustion engine by emitting a blend of bbs-tek white sound frequencies that
  • Brigade launches QVS sound system for hybrid and EVs
    March 21, 2019
    Electronic vehicles (EVs) are a technical marvel – but vulnerable road users (VRUs) can’t hear them, which creates obvious safety problems. Brigade Electronics says help is at hand with its Quiet Vehicle Sounder (QVS), a speaker system which the company says reduces collisions between pedestrians and hybrid and EVs. The QVS, also known as an acoustic vehicle alerting system, simulates the sound characteristics of an internal combustion engine by emitting a blend of bbs-tek white sound frequencies th