NHTSA Sets New Safety Standard Requiring Hybrid and Electric Cars to Make Noise

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is setting a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for hybrid and electric passenger cars, light trucks and vans, and low speed vehicles to produce sounds at a minimum level, it said (here). “This standard will help to ensure that blind, visually impaired, and other pedestrians are able to detect and recognize nearby hybrid and electric vehicles,” it said. Compliance with the standard will be phased in beginning Sept. 1, 2018, with full compliance required Sept. 1, 2019.