Report: Hybrid cars hit pedestrians and bikers more often than conventional vehicles
No less than the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has confirmed that the silence of the hybrid vehicles when running in the “electric mode” makes it more likely for accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists to occur. Continued after the jump!
According to the NHTSA’s study, pedestrian and bicyclist crashes involving both HEVs (hybrid electric) and ICE (internal combustion) vehicles commonly occurred on roadways, in zones with low speed limits, during daytime and in clear weather.
Higher incidence rates were recorded for HEVs when compared to ICE vehicles. The NHTSA considered various scenarios when such crashes might occur. In one particular group of scenarios, they found that there is a statistically significant effect due to engine type. This occurred when the vehicle is slowing or stopping, backing up, or entering or leaving a parking space.
The HEV was found to be twice as likely to be involved in a pedestrian crash in these situations than was an ICE vehicle. It makes looking for your car in the parking lot far riskier than you think.
The study also found that in crashes that occur during very low speed (such as when a vehicle is making a turn, slowing or stopping, backing up, or entering or leaving a parking space), the incidence rate of bicyclist crashes involving HEVs was significantly higher when compared to ICE vehicles. In addition, bicyclist crashes involving HEVs at intersections or interchanges were significantly higher when compared to ICE vehicles.
[via automobilemag]
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