As a New Yorker, you are no stranger to walking dozens of blocks in a single trip. To stay safe, you watch and listen for approaching vehicles. This approach may have to change as electric vehicles become more common, though, as these vehicles emit virtually no sound.
Recently, Tesla announced the recall of more than 500,000 electric vehicles. According to reporting from Yahoo News, the purpose of the latest recall is the company’s boombox update. This update allows drivers to play funny noises, such as flatulence or goat bleats, on external speakers.
Tesla’s boombox system interferes with pedestrian warnings
As electric vehicles have become more popular with U.S. consumers, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has expressed concerns about pedestrian safety. To alleviate these concerns, many electric vehicle manufacturers have installed warning systems. These systems typically emit a tone when pedestrians are present, alerting walkers and joggers to the presence of electric vehicles.
With the recent Tesla recall, safety regulators worried about the effectiveness of warning systems. Specifically, because the boombox technology allows drivers to play preset and custom sounds, pedestrians may not know when they are in potential danger. Sticking with a standard tone is the solution, according to the NHTSA.
Pedestrians have some learning to do
Because of the sounds they make, traditional motor vehicles are usually easy to identify. Even though you may not realize it, you had to learn how these vehicles sound. When it comes to electric vehicles, you have some additional learning to do. That is, you must teach your brain to recognize the tones electric vehicles emit.
While the safety warning systems of electric vehicles are likely to become familiar to your ears eventually, you may be at risk of suffering a serious injury in the meantime. Ultimately, pursuing financial compensation from the driver who is responsible for your injuries may give you the means to recover completely.