President Obama has signed into law the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010. Under the law, hybrid electric and pure electric vehicles must emit an alert sound that allows blind and other pedestrians to reasonably detect a nearby electric or hybrid vehicle operating below a certain cross-over speed. The alert sound must be in compliance with a new safety standard that NHTSA is required to create in accordance with the law. NHTSA has 36 months to finalize the new standard and although 100% fleet compliance will not occur until 36 months after the final rule is published, the new requirements are to be phased-in over time which likely means that some vehicles will need to comply as early as the September 2014. In the meantime, many electric vehicles, like the Leaf and Volt, already are being equipped with alert sounds. Much of the research and development for the new NHTSA standard will need to occur in the next 6 - 9 months since NHTSA is required to issue a proposed regulation by the middle of 2012.
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