Car Accident Risk? Electric Vehicles Have Higher Likelihood of Hitting Pedestrians Compared to Petrol Cars, Study Reveals

According to a new study, hybrid and electric vehicles had a doubled risk of hitting pedestrians than usual petrol vehicles.

This was based on data taken from 32 billion miles' worth of battery-powered car travel and 3 trillion miles' worth of diesel and petrol car travel across the UK.

Electric car — (Photo: Pixabay / andreas160578)

EVs Have a Higher Risk of Hitting Pedestrians

As part of the study, researchers examined Road Safety Data (STATS19) datasets. These contained reports of every pedestrian who got injured due to car or taxi collisions in Great Britain. Such incidents happened between the years 2013 and 2017.

Among the 96,285 pedestrians in the datasets who were hit by a taxi or car, only 2% were hit by a hybrid or electric car, while 74% were hit by a diesel or petrol car.

However, the researchers were able to calculate that the average casualty rates among pedestrians annually per 100 million miles for hybrid-electric or electric vehicles and taxis had a doubled likelihood compared to accidents that involve diesel or petrol engines.

The figures showed a rate of 5.16 accidents per 100 million miles for hybrid and electric cars, compared to just 2.40 for diesel or petrol cars or taxis.

Findings were noted in the "Pedestrian safety on the road to net zero: cross-sectional study of collisions with electric and hybrid-electric cars in Great Britain" study.

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Silence Could Be Why

According to Phil Edwards, a Professor of Epidemiology and Statistics from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the primary reason behind the figures could be that hybrid and electric cars are quieter than diesel and petrol ones.

Edwards shared that electric cars are almost definitely better for health, considering the damaging air pollution effects of diesel and petrol cars. However, the study reveals that further efforts must be exerted to reduce the risks they pose to pedestrians. This is especially the case in noisy areas.

Another 2017 study revealed that hybrid and electric vehicles posed a 20% higher risk for pedestrians than diesel and petrol cars. They were also found to have a 50% increased risk with low-speed moves, such as reversing or turning.

Since July 2019, all new electric and hybrid vehicles marketed in Europe have been legally obligated to have an external acoustic system. This system plays a sound when the EV is moving slowly.

Due to insufficient accident data, it is hard to conclude whether pedestrian-related incidents have declined as a result of such efforts.

Moreover, there are significantly more hybrid and electric vehicles on the road compared to 2017. It is possible that pedestrians are more informed about quieter hybrid and electric vehicles than seven years ago.

Edwards also explained that drivers of such electric cars should be more cautious, as these vehicles are quieter, and pedestrians have adapted to road navigation by listening to traffic.