On July 12, 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation (DOT), published a Notice of Intent / Request for Scoping Comments (Docket No. NHTSA-2011-0100). NHTSA seeks public comment on a range of alternatives and the impacts to be considered in the Environmental Assessment (EA). They also want to identify the most important issues for an in-depth analysis involving the NHTSA pedestrian safety (PEDSAFE) standard for systems that emit a sound during certain operating conditions of electric and hybrid vehicles. The intent of the system is to aid visually-impaired and other pedestrians to detect the presence and operating conditions of the equipped vehicles.
The Pedestrian Safety Act was enacted on January 4, 2011 and it requires:
- NHTSA to conduct rulemaking to establish an FMVSS subject to the requirements of being performance-oriented, practicable, objective and meets the safety need as well as being subject to enforcement and penalties.
- An alert sound for pedestrians emitted by low speed vehicles, motorcycles, light vehicles, buses, medium and heavy trucks that are electric (EV) or hybrid (HV) powered.
- Performance requirements that enable visually-impaired and other pedestrians to discern the presence, direction, location and operation of the EV and HV's operating below the cross-over speed.
- Alert sound shall not be dependent on pedestrian or driver for activation.
- Rulemaking must be initiated by July 4, 2012.
- Final Rule required by January 4, 2014.
- Phase-in to be provided with 100% compliance effective September 1st of the calendar year beginning 3 years after Final Rule publication.
- NHTSA report to Congress on safety need for sound alert system for vehicles with ICEs by January 4, 2015.
The alternatives currently under consideration and are:
- No Action.
- Recordings of Actual Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Sounds.
- Synthesized ICE-Equivalent Sounds.
- Combination of Synthesized Non-ICE Sounds and ICE Components to Aid Recognition.
- Synthesized Non-ICE Sounds Developed to Enhance Detectability.
- Should other Alternatives be Considered?
Scoping comments should be submitted to NHTSA by August 11, 2011.