Vias: ‘Vulnerable road users more often involved in EV accidents’

According to a new Traffic Safety Institute Vias study, the number of electric car accidents has increased significantly in the last few years. Although limited, the number of electric vehicles on the road has also increased considerably.

The share of accidents involving an electric car in the total of accidents involving a passenger car is still very low. However, vulnerable road users are more often involved in electric car accidents. EV accidents occur relatively more often in Flanders, but the number of EVs is also more prominent in Flanders.

Silent and powerful

According to Vias, EVs’ noiselessness at speeds below 30 km/hour and higher acceleration power also contribute to dangerous road situations. EVs are harder to ‘notice’ for vulnerable road users.

There are also slightly more EV accidents on highways, which may be related to the high proportion of EVs used as commercial vehicles, traveling on the highway 42.8% of the time, compared to 29.8% for private EVs.

The speed limit of the road, the car’s weight, and its power strongly influence the severity of the accident. Electric cars are usually heavier and more powerful, contributing to the severity of accidents.

ADAS

There is too little information on EV accidents abroad to make relevant comparisons. According to experts, EVs are usually equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that increase the safety of passengers and other road users.

Those assistance systems also contribute to increased driving comfort, which can, in turn, have a positive effect on the driver’s driving behavior.

However, these driver assistance systems are not characteristic of vehicle electrification but of the modern equipment of new cars, regardless of their drive.

No increased risk

Exploration of Belgian accident data shows no increased risk due to an electrical drive. The accident risk for electric cars is lower than that of gasoline and diesel cars.

The severity of an accident is mainly influenced by vehicle characteristics other than the electric drive. Experts conclude that road safety would benefit if vehicles—electric and other–became lighter.