How Hard Is It for a Blind Person to Hear an Electric Car on the Road?

Recent model electric vehicles (EVs) have been required to emit synthetic sounds at low speeds to make them as easy to detect as conventional fuel vehicles. At high speeds, they are just as noisy, and sound is not required. This legislation aims to ensure the safety of pedestrians, particularly blind individuals, as the quietness of EVs could pose a significant danger on the roads.

The Role of Sound in Navigating

As someone who is not blind, my answer is speculative. However, it is widely accepted that the blind generally have better hearing than people with vision. They may perceive an electric car more easily than someone who can see. For example, my wife's Toyota Prius, when operating in electric mode, is almost silent. The only exception is when the car is in reverse, due to the built-in beeper.

Developing Sensory Acuity

Blind individuals typically develop very sensitive sensors to feel and hear their surroundings. Vehicles push a lot of air, and this pressure zone travels some distance ahead of the craft depending on the streamlining of the front. A blunt front end, such as that of a bus or truck, will have this pressure zone far ahead, while a sports car will have it closer. I have met two people who were blind from birth and a person who went blind at the age of 30 due to diabetes. They had to rely on their sensory skills to navigate the world around them.

Experiencing Vehicles Through Sensation

Blind individuals often enjoy experiencing vehicles. A London double-decker bus can be heard and felt coming from a distance, as the roar and frequency of the engine are distinct. For them, a bus is like a big monster or a dinosaur, and they wish to see it. In a memorable experience, I assisted a blind child to walk around and feel a double-decker bus. I even brought a ladder to help him feel the front of the bus and a sports car to experience the streamlined design.

Exploring Music and Vibration

Music and vibration can also be experienced and appreciated by the blind. I experimented with using an air cushion and a metal sheet, excited by a loudspeaker, to produce sound waves that blind people could feel. Deaf and blind people could enjoy music through flickering light sequences, while deaf children appreciated music through vibrating cushions and metal sheets. I had to be careful with vibrating cushions, as they had an unexpected effect that I did not plan for.

Experience and Reaction Times

Blind people are always very cautious when it comes to traffic. They have a keen sense of spatial awareness and reaction times that are often faster than those of older persons who can see. For example, an old man was crossing the street without looking, and another person had to stop his car to keep him safe. Young people generally have faster reaction times, but even they may have a delay of one to two seconds.

Blinded Pilots and Radar Technology

When considering aviation, pilots often fly in conditions of limited visibility. Over 80% of aircraft incidents are due to human errors, and pilots may be considered 'relatively blind' as they depend on instruments. Pilots, including those like Sully Sullenberger who landed a plane on the Hudson, may be totally blind to their surroundings in fog or heavy clouds. Engineers can create wearable radar devices to help humans 'see' what their eyes cannot.