# Safety implications of electric vehicle adoption > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/safety-implications-of-electric-vehicle-adoption > Updated: 2026-09-21T22:00:00.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. Research indicates that the rise of electric mobility presents distinct safety challenges for vulnerable road users. A study by the Vias institute found that electric vehicles are significantly more likely to be involved in accidents with pedestrians or cyclists, noting a 55% overrepresentation compared to the general vehicle fleet. This risk is primarily attributed to the silence of electric motors at low speeds, as Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) vary in intensity and may fail to alert pedestrians or visually impaired individuals in time. Complementary research from Breda University of Applied Sciences suggests that while light electric vehicles (LEVs), such as e-scooters and fatbikes, can reduce car dependency, they introduce new safety concerns on cycling paths due to differences in speed and mass. While LEVs attract more visual attention than traditional bicycles, researchers noted that safety risks are often linked to user behavior and the availability of separated cycle paths rather than the vehicles themselves. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-21: Breda University study: LEVs can reduce car use but impact cycling safety Breda University research shows light electric vehicles (LEVs) can reduce car use but increase cycling accident risks due to varied speeds on shared paths. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/breda-university-study-levs-can-reduce-car-use-but-impact-cycling-safety ### 2026-08-28: Vias study: Electric vehicles pose higher risk to pedestrians A Vias study reveals electric vehicles are 55% more likely to involve pedestrians or cyclists in accidents due to insufficient acoustic alerts (AVAS) at low speeds. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vias-study-electric-vehicles-pose-higher-risk-to-pedestrians --- Cite as: Safety implications of electric vehicle adoption. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/safety-implications-of-electric-vehicle-adoption