From AAIA Capital Report

The House passed legislation on Dec. 16 that will require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to determine a minimum level of sound for safety purposes that must be made by electric and hybrid vehicles.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), and was supported by the vehicle manufacturers, National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind. Rep. Towns stated upon passage that “the silent nature of hybrid and electric vehicles, coupled with their growing popularity, presents a dilemma – how do we protect individuals who depend on sound for their safety, such as unsuspecting pedestrians and the blind?”

The bill was unanimously passed by the Senate on Dec. 9 and therefore is now cleared for the president’s signature.