Position Statement on Quiet Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

The last few years has seen a rise in the interest in electric and hybrid vehicles, with an increasing number coming onto the market. The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs) recognises the environmental benefits of hybrid and electric vehicles and their role in improving fuel economy and reducing carbon emissions. However, electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles which operate on electric power at low speed, are virtually silent. Thus there are serious implications for the independent mobility and safety of blind and partially sighted people.

Our concerns

Blind and partially sighted people are reliant on audible environmental cues to assist with their mobility and orientation. The sound of a vehicle’s engine is used as a good indicator to establish its movement, speed and proximity. This is particularly important when crossing roads, especially when there are no controlled pedestrian crossings with audible and tactile indicators. The sound of oncoming traffic, or absence of this sound, is used as a cue to assess when it is safe to cross the road.

Blind and partially sighted people are reliant on the following audible cues from a vehicle to judge when it is safe to cross a road:

• How far they are away from the vehicle travelling towards them.
• The speed of the vehicle relative to the environmental conditions
• The vehicle’s state in terms of acceleration or deceleration
• The type and size of the vehicle

Read the full position statement