- Even in the countryside the risk was found to be twice as high.
Pedestrians in urban areas are three times more likely to be hit by an electric car than by a gasoline or diesel model, according to a study.
Higher levels of background noise mean those living in cities and towns are at greater risk of accidents with electric cars, which tend to be quieter than traditional vehicles.
But even in the countryside, the risk is twice as high with green transport as with other cars.
Researchers compared differences in pedestrian casualty rates per 100 million miles of road travel in the UK between electric or hybrid vehicles and fossil fuel cars, using road safety data between 2013 and 2017.
There were 916,713 traffic collision victims reported and 120,197 pedestrians involved. The London School of Tropical Medicine reports that the average annual pedestrian casualty rate per 160 million road kilometers traveled was 5.16 for electric and hybrid vehicles and 2.40 for gasoline and diesel vehicles.
Pedestrians in urban areas are three times more likely to be hit by an electric car than by a gasoline or diesel model, according to a study (Stock Photo)
The London School of Tropical Medicine reports that the average annual pedestrian casualty rate per 100 million road miles traveled was 5.16 for electric and hybrid vehicles and 2.40 for gasoline and diesel vehicles (Photo by stock)
According to the researchers, collisions with pedestrians were, on average, twice as likely in electric and hybrid cars as in gasoline and diesel vehicles, and three times more likely in urban areas.
From 2021, new electric vehicles in the UK must generate sound to reduce any risk they pose to pedestrians.