Electric cars 'may pose safety risk for the blind'

Date: 10/11/2010

People who are blind or partially sighted face a risk from electric cars because the vehicles are so quiet, a charity has said.

Guide Dogs claimed individuals who rely on sound to cross the road safely will not be able to hear the cars moving.

Carol Thomas, Access and Inclusion Manager at the organisation, said although it recognises the environmental benefits of hybrid vehicles, "they are virtually silent and blind and partially-sighted people rely on vehicle sound to assist with their mobility and orientation."

She added the noise produced by oncoming traffic is used by these individuals to judge when it is safe to cross the road and an eco vehicle that is stationary at a pedestrian crossing but about to move would not be heard.

The issue of vision was also raised recently by Andrew Howard, Head of Road Safety at the AA, who stated the degenerative eyesight of older drivers poses an alarming risk to road safety.

Posted by Sarah Bailey