A study by the University of Leeds has found no significant difference in pedestrian casualty rates between electric vehicles (EVs) and conventional petrol or diesel cars in the United Kingdom, easing concerns that battery-powered vehicles pose greater risks due to their weight and low operating noise.
The research analysed collision data covering about 250 billion miles driven annually in the UK between 2019 and 2023. It found average pedestrian casualty rates of 57.8 per billion miles for EVs and 58.9 for non-electric vehicles. Out of 71,979 recorded pedestrian casualties involving cars, taxis and private hire vehicles, electric vehicles were linked to 996 cases, or 1.38%, while conventional vehicles accounted for more than 91% of incidents. Hybrid vehicles were involved in 5,303 cases, representing 7.36% of the total.
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“There were two worries about EVs and road safety. First, whether EVs would increase the number of collisions with pedestrians because they were quieter than traditional vehicles,” said Professor Zia Wadud of the University of Leeds. “Second, where there is a collision, whether the injuries to the pedestrians would be more severe when involving an EV because the vehicles are heavier. Our results show that this is not the case.”
While earlier assumptions suggested that heavier electric cars—estimated to be roughly 0.3 tonnes heavier on average—could cause more severe injuries, the study found no evidence to support this. Researchers said the introduction of the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) in 2019, which requires EVs to emit warning sounds at low speeds, may have helped reduce potential risks.
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The study separated hybrids into a standalone category and found they recorded the highest pedestrian casualty rate at 120.14 per billion miles. The researchers attributed this to the frequent use of hybrids as private hire vehicles, giving them higher mileage and greater exposure in city centres. Despite higher collision rates, average injury severity from hybrid-related incidents was lower than that linked to internal combustion engine vehicles.
Vehicle size also emerged as a key factor in injury severity. Large sport utility vehicles were associated with a higher likelihood of serious pedestrian injuries. “We should worry less about the potential dangers of electrified vehicles and more about the growing prevalence of SUVs on the nation’s roads,” Wadud said, adding that larger vehicles pose both safety and environmental challenges regardless of their powertrain.