CAG Position Statement - Quiet Vehicles
People who are blind, Deafblind, or partially sighted rely on the sounds created by internal combustion engines to travel safely throughout their communities. Vehicles that do not produce sufficient amount of sound can be significantly harder to detect and thus pose a safety concern. Quiet vehicles must meet a minimum sound standard enabling blind pedestrians to detect their presence and navigate safely. Read the full Position Statement for further information and CAG recommendations.
Position Statement on E-scooters
Revised – November 2022
About the Consumer Access Group
The Consumer Access Group (CAG) is a coalition of blindness related not-for-profit organizations. Each partner contributes their expertise to developing position statements on blindness related concerns. These statements enable organizations and individuals to advocate with a common voice on blindness-related issues, increasing the capacity of each to more effectively promote social inclusion for Canadians who are blind, Deafblind, and partially sighted.
Issue
People who are blind, Deafblind, or partially sighted (hereafter referred to as blind) rely on the sounds created by internal combustion engines to travel safely throughout their communities. Vehicles that do not produce a sufficient amount of sound can be significantly harder to detect and thus pose a safety concern for pedestrians who are blind.
There are at least two international standards which specify the sound characteristics which electric vehicles must produce in order to keep vulnerable road users safe.
These are:
- Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Quiet Road Transport Vehicles with Regard to their Reduced Audibility (Regulation No. 138-00 issued by the United Nations).
- Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 141 issued by the United States).
Background
Canadian streets have begun to see an influx of more and more electric vehicles. These vehicles which will reduce greenhouse gases, are a positive move as Canada works to meet its international obligations.
However, in doing so, quiet vehicles must not compromise vulnerable road users including people who are blind. Vulnerable road users also include a growing number of cyclists, children, and pedestrians.
Research has demonstrated that quiet vehicles are harder to detect by persons who are blind (Footnote 1). In order to ensure that pedestrians who use vehicle noise to travel safely are not put at unnecessary risk, quiet vehicles must meet a minimum sound standard. Both the United Nations and the United States have put into force minimum sound requirements which electric or hybrid vehicles must emit. Canada has adopted both these standards and vehicles manufactured after Canada's road safety regulations come into force can meet either of the above requirements.
The organizations listed below have endorsed the following recommendations which, if followed, will ensure that persons who are blind will be able to hear quiet vehicles and respond accordingly when navigating within their communities.
It is imperative that further research be undertaken to ensure that the sounds produced through the Audible Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) can be detected on Canadian streets.
Recommendations
- When determining a minimum standard that attempts to strike a balance between a low noise that may be difficult to hear and therefore is dangerous for pedestrians, and a loud sound that disturbs people, safety must be given the highest priority.
- Electric or hybrid vehicles, when idling or travelling less than 20 km per hour, must continuously generate a sound which alerts persons who are blind or other vulnerable road users of their presence. The vehicle must make a continuous noise level of at least 56 dBA (within 2 meters) and a maximum of 75 dBA (Footnote 2).
- A minimum sound standard must prohibit the inclusion of a driver controlled on/off switch.
- AVAS systems must be easily identifiable and not mimic naturally occurring sounds or sounds which would not typically be heard on city streets; e.g., musical instruments.
Endorsed by the following CAG organizations: