Guide Dogs celebrates European victory for Safe and Sound Campaign
06 Feb 2013
Guide Dogs is celebrating a victory for its Safe and Sound campaign following a vote in the European Parliament today.
If the regulation is agreed by the EU Council, car manufacturers will have to fit an artificial noise to all quiet electric and hybrid vehicles, making British roads safer for blind and partially sighted people and other vulnerable road users.
Today’s vote in the European Parliament in Strasbourg follows a major lobbying campaign by Guide Dogs and organisations representing blind and partially sighted people across Europe.
- Chief Executive Richard LeamanPeople with sight loss rely on hearing noise from cars and vans to identify a safe gap in the traffic to cross a road. This change will make our roads safer and help protect not only blind and partially sighted people, but pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users.
The amended regulation will now go before the EU Council for approval, but Guide Dogs wants further action to ensure drivers don’t have the option to switch off artificial noise systems in electric and hybrid vehicles.
In 2010 the US passed a similar law on noise levels in quiet vehicles, and Japan already has regulations in place.
For more on Guide Dogs Safe and Sound Campaign and other important issues, visit our campaigns pages.
