NEARLY one in seven people in Scotland have had a collision or near miss on the roads involving a noiseless electric or hybrid car, according to new research.
The study from Vision Express released for Road Safety Week found 71% of people felt unsafe because of the silent vehicles. There are currently around 250,000 on UK roads with up to nine million predicted by 2030.
Around one in three (32%) people identified them as a more significant road safety risk than satnavs and Bluetooth systems. The optician is raising awareness about the issue and is supporting Brake’s Step up for Safe Streets campaign with a call to reinvent the Green Cross Code message of Stop, Look, Listen with a greater emphasis on look.
READ MORE: Driverless buses to carry 10,000 people a week into Edinburgh
An EU law passed this year means new electric and hybrid vehicles must be fitted with an audio alert, and by July 2021 all such vehicles need to have one. However, a study by One Poll showed a quarter of drivers in Scotland would disable the sound alert, while 12% would not want it installed.
Dan McGhee, from Vision Express, said: “We wanted to launch a campaign that drives awareness to the vital ‘Look’ and the importance of maintaining regular eye checks to stay road safe.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel