Australia Introduces New Law Requiring Noise for Electric Vehicles to Enhance Safety
Australia is catching up with the rest of the world, introducing a new design rule that means electric vehicles must make a noise when moving at low speed.
‘Quiet’ cars, such as electric and hybrid cars, are now required by law to make a warning sound at low speeds to help blind and partially sighted people stay safe, it was announced today.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King on Friday announced the new Australian Design Rule (ADR), which will be mandatory on all new electric, hybrid, and hydrogen cars, as well as trucks and buses, when traveling below 25 km/h at the latest November 2025.
The noise, known as an Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS), is a safety alert or sound that is emitted when an electric vehicle is traveling at low speed in locations such as parking lots, intersections, and driveways.
These vehicles are harder for pedestrians to hear compared to louder vehicles with conventional gasoline or diesel engines, the government said, increasing the risk of being involved in a collision, especially for those who are blind or impaired of vision.
According to research by leading blindness advocacy group Vision Australia, 35 percent of people who are blind or have low vision have been in a collision or near miss with a quiet vehicle.
“Vision Australia has been calling for AVAS to be introduced in Australia since 2018,” Vision Australia Director of Government Relations, Defense and NDIS Chris Edwards said in a statement.
“With electric vehicles expected to make up 90 percent of Australia’s vehicle fleet by 2050, it is vital that the AVAS requirement is not delayed in coming into force,” Mr. Edwards said.
“All pedestrians should have the right to feel safe and confident when traveling in public spaces, and today’s announcement is an important step towards protecting that for people who are blind or have low vision. There is no doubt that this is an announcement that will save lives.”
EVs equipped with an AVAS are expected to help prevent around 68 deaths, 2,675 serious injuries, and 2,962 minor injuries by 2060 and save the Australian community an estimated $208 million.
This legislation aligns Australia with international jurisdictions such as the European Union, the United States, and Japan, which have long required electric cars to emit safety sounds.
“As more and more Australians choose to drive electric vehicles, we are committed to ensuring they are safe for both drivers and other people using the road,” Minister King said in a statement.
“This is a significant victory for those members of the blind and low vision community who have long been advocating for the introduction of warning systems like this in Australia.”
The new addition to ADR is being introduced following federal government consultation with vehicle manufacturers and the low vision community, although it is also understood to have the support of state and territory authorities.
This article originally appeared on Drive: Electric car noise warning law to make roads safer for blind people.
