The risk of e-scooters injuring unaware pedestrians can be solved with a proven pre-existing technology, vehicle safety company Brigade Electronics has claimed.
Brigade has said its White Sound alarm could be installed in e-scooters to help alert pedestrians to e-scooters. The bbs-tek solution produces a ‘ssh ssh’ white noise, which is designed to be heard clearly in the danger zone, even when people are wearing headphones or ear defenders or for those with hearing difficulties.
Furthermore, the use of broadband technology provides greater directional information to the ear. The sound enables a pedestrian to tell where the vehicle is – a huge leap forward in terms of safety, because even a split-second’s confusion can result in serious injury, the company said.
Safety campaigner Chris Hanson-Abbot, founder of Brigade, said: “It’s admirable that the government is looking into improving the safety of scooters as more and more are seen on the nation’s paths and pavements.
“Scooters are hard to hear at low speeds and are fast enough that they can easily take a pedestrian by surprise, especially if they are distracted by their phone or are listening to music, and cause serious harm or worse.
“White Noise technology can alert pedestrians to an oncoming scooter quickly and efficiently and Brigade, which introduced the reversing alarm to the UK back in 1976, stands ready to provide a proven product that is trusted by drivers and fleet operators across the world to reduce scooter accidents.”
Additionally, Brigade’s bbs-tek White Sound reversing alarms can operate effectively at five decibels lower than conventional beeping alarms. The solution is also endorsed by PIEK and the Noise Abatement Society and have been awarded the Quiet Mark for its environmental benefits.
