Germany enforces acoustic alerts on electric cars to boost pedestrian safety

Germany is tightening the use of Acoustic Vehicle Alert Systems (AVAS) on electric and hybrid cars to protect pedestrians, especially those with visual impairments. Under EU regulation No. 138, the system must emit a sound when the vehicle moves forward at speeds up to 20 km/h and when reversing, cannot be switched off by the driver, and must stay below 75 dB(A). Dominik Werner of RWTH Aachen highlighted the technical and regulatory challenges of designing such warnings. The article also notes broader efforts to design artificial sounds for safety, such as research by Tomomi Yamada’s team at Osaka University to make dental drill noise less distressing for children, and programs in New Zealand and the UK that set acoustic comfort standards for buildings. These initiatives aim to make everyday environments quieter yet more informative, balancing audibility with comfort.