Traffic Sounds and Cycling Safety: The Use of Electronic Devices by Cyclists and the Quietness of Hybrid and Electric Cars

Abstract

The growing popularity of electric devices and the increasing number of hybrid and electric cars have recently raised concerns about the use of auditory signals by vulnerable road users. This paper consolidates current knowledge about the two trends in relation to cycling safety. Both a literature review and a crash data analysis were carried out. Based on a proposed conceptual model, knowledge gaps are identified that need to be addressed for a better understanding of the relation between limitations on auditory information while cycling. Results suggest that the concerns regarding the use of electronic devices while cycling and the advent of hybrid and electric vehicles are justified. Listening to music and conversing on the phone negatively influence cyclists’ auditory perception, self-reported crash risk and cycling performance. With regard to electric cars, a recurring problem is their quietness at low speeds. Implications of these findings in terms of cycling safety are discussed.

Keywords:

• electric vehicles
• cyclists
• auditory perception
• traffic safety
• mobile phones
• music

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Mendonça et al. (2013) does not provide information on whether the hybrid car operated in electric mode. Wall Emerson et al. (2011) cannot ensure that the used hybrid electric car was actually driven in electric mode when going at certain speeds.

2. Incidence rates = the number of vehicles of a given type involved in crashes divided by the total number of that type of vehicle that were in any crashes.

3. Crashes caused by the low sound emission = situations in which a driver reported having been missed by vulnerable road users resulting in a collision; noise-related incidents = being missed by a vulnerable road user not resulting in a collision.

4. Safety standards in general, but also standards specific for pedestrian protection, such as the design of softer and more forgiving car fronts (see, e.g. www.euroncap.com/home.aspx).