WASHINGTON – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed that hybrid and electric vehicles emit detectable sound when the vehicle is traveling at speeds slower than 18 mph in order to make pedestrians and others more aware of them.

NHTSA’s proposal would mandate that automakers use sounds that meet minimum requirements. It would also require that each vehicle of the same make and model emit the same set of sounds. This change is required by the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 (PSEA), according to NHTSA.

The agency estimates that if the U.S. Department of Transportation implements this new motor vehicle standard, 2,800 fewer pedestrians and bicyclists would be injured each year over the life of each model-year of hybrid car, truck, van, and low-speed vehicle.

"Our proposal would allow manufacturers the flexibility to design different sounds for different makes and models while still providing an opportunity for pedestrians, bicyclists and the visually impaired to detect and recognize a vehicle and make a decision about whether it is safe to cross the street," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.