RT Journal Article
T1 New Risk Situations Related to Low Noise from Electric Vehicles: Perception ofWorkers as Pedestrians and Other Vehicle Drivers.
A1 Pardo-Ferreira, María del Carmen
A1 Torrecilla-García, Juan Antonio
A1 De-las-Heras-Rosas, Carlos Javier
A1 Rubio-Romero, Juan Carlos
K1 Vehículos eléctricos - Gestión del riesgo
K1 Seguridad vial
K1 Peatones
K1 Tráfico - Regulación
AB Sales of electric and hybrid electric vehicles are increasing steadily worldwide,and consequently their presence increases in city areas. At low speeds, the low levels of noiseproduced by these vehicles could become a new risk factor for road users. However, the magnitudeof the risk has not been accurately determined. In addition, its inclusion in the work environmentcould pose a new risk that should be managed. Thus, in relation to low noise levels of electric andhybrid vehicles, this study aimed to characterise the risk situations and determine the risk perceptionof workers as pedestrians and internal combustion engine vehicle drivers coming into contact withthese vehicles. The data were extracted from 417 questionnaires filled out by the employees of publicservice companies who come into contact with electric and hybrid vehicles during their workingday in the city of Málaga, in the region of Andalusia, Spain. According to the experiences reported,it seems that the risk due to the low noise levels of electric vehicles is moderate and does not reachalarming levels. These risk situations usually occurred in low speed urban areas, particularly whencrossing the road, or in semi-pedestrian areas. Almost half the respondents considered that theelectric vehicle poses a risk to other road users because it is more di cult to hear, and they believeit likely that other road users could be injured. Despite that risk, pedestrians did not change theirway of walking or moving around the parking areas and other areas of the company. Electric andhybrid electric cars are now required to produce sound when travelling at low speeds. Nevertheless,the e ectiveness of this measure should be assessed once implemented and future research shouldexplore alternative non-acoustic measures
PB MDPI
YR 2020
FD 2020-09-14
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10630/32130
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10630/32130
LA eng
NO Pardo-Ferreira, M. C., Torrecilla-García, J. A., Heras-Rosas, C. de L., & Rubio-Romero, J. C. (2020). New Risk Situations Related to Low Noise from Electric Vehicles: Perception of Workers as Pedestrians and Other Vehicle Drivers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 6701-. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186701
NO Spanish Department of Traffic (DGT). Ref SPIP2015-01765
DS RIUMA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Málaga
RD 21 ene 2026