They could add a noise to electric scooters just like it was added to electric cars to prevent accidents

Run overs in cities are an increasingly common problem as electric vehicles have gained weight. To solve this problem there is a trick that has been implemented in New York City for years.

Researchers are working with electric scooter hire companies in the UK to develop a distinctive noise that warns pedestrians of approaching electric vehicles.

As an English medium explains Dott, Lime and Tier (scooter rental companies) are collaborating with a team from University College London to create a noise that should be especially helpful for people with vision problems.

Similar regulations already exist for electric cars in many places around the world. The United States, the EU and Japan, for example, require that electric cars emit a noise warning when driving at low speed, to help avoid accidents in car parks.

Specifically, in February 2018 the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ruled that electric cars must emit a warning sound when moving at speeds below 30 km/h.

However, no country has insisted on a specific noise, so automakers took the opportunity to have fun. Mercedes-Benz, for example, enlisted the help of Linkin Park to create a bespoke sound with a metal twist.

The goal with electric scooters is to create a distinctive alert that is easy to hear and identify, but does not add to the general ambient noise of the street, hence the challenge of getting everyone to agree.

But nevertheless, this will not completely solve the problem, as many of the electric two-wheelers that circulate in cities are not officially licensed nor are they registered, and these are a big part of the problem.

As these scooters are not sold for road use, they do not have to meet any specific safety standards, hence the drama when it comes to legislating.

Instead, rental units must meet strict standards, with a modest speed limit, lights and electric brakes. They can only be borrowed if you have at least a provisional driving license, and are equipped with GPS.

This measure, to put sound on the scooters, it will be launched in the coming weeks and its success will depend on whether the measure is extended to the rest of the United Kingdom and, later, to the world. But for this they will have to reduce accidents during the trial period.