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Electric cars more likely to hit pedestrians than petrol vehicles, study finds

Electric and hybrid vehicles are quieter than cars with combustion engines, making them harder to hear, especially in urban areas

Hybrid and electric cars are more likely to strike pedestrians than petrol or diesel vehicles, particularly in towns and cities, according to an analysis of British road traffic accidents. In rural settings, battery-powered cars were no more dangerous than petrol or diesel, but in towns and cities they were three times more likely to collide with pedestrians, the researchers found. Nicola Christie, professor in transport safety at UCL, said people relied on sound to judge the presence, speed and location of vehicles.

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