A new European Union regulations that is set to be implemented from Monday, there has to be a device that would emit sounds in all of the new electric vehicles.

This directive has been adopted by the EU after there were several concerns expressed form multiple quarters that the electric vehicles and other low-emission cars and vans are too quiet. Skeptics said that this aspect of such vehicles is a risk for pedestrians because the vehicles can hardly be heard while they approach the pedestrians. That can create the risk of accidents.

The new EU directive states that all of the new types of four-wheel electric vehicles have to be mandatorily fitted with devices that would emit sounds just like a conventional car engine would so that people could become aware that a vehicle is approaching.

The directive has also set a value for the sound and has said that the acoustic vehicle alert system (Avas) of a car must sound when reversing or when the car is travelling below a speed of 12mph (19km/h).

This is because the EU feels that when cars are backing up or are being driven slowly, they would most likely be close to pedestrians. However the new regulation also would give the liberty to the car drivers to deactivate the devices when they think it is necessary.

The change was welcomed by the charity Guide Dogs which had complained it was difficult to hear low-emission cars approaching. It however also said that sound should be made by electric vehicles at all speeds.

The government wanted “the benefits of green transport to be felt by everyone” and understood the concerns of the visually impaired, said Roads minister Michael Ellis. “This new requirement will give pedestrians added confidence when crossing the road,” he added.

The United Kingdom government has announced its plans to ban the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040. Alternatively-fuelled vehicles made up 6.6% of the new car market in May, compared with 5.6% during the same month in 2018

(Adapted from BBC.com)

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