[Peter Ward]

With a recent post on EV's it jogged a memory about the rubbish that gets spruiked in social and tabloid media about how dangerous EV cars are. I responded to the SMH about one of these outrageous claims a while ago. Hope you enjoy it

As an EV owner, I was interested in the following from The SMH Drive section (dated Feb 21st, 2020) on electric cars:

"According to Vision Australia, more than 380,000 Australians are blind or have low vision, with most citing walking their main means of transport. What? They are not driving? This can't be right! Given some of the idiots that do drive must be blind. I digress...

A 2018 report from Vision Australia and the Monash University Accident Research Centre found 35 per cent of people who are blind or have low vision have been involved in a collision or near-collision with an electric or hybrid vehicle"

So running the actual numbers, some 133,000 visually impaired people have had either been hit or had a near miss with an EV or Hybrid car!

Given there are only 6000 or so EV's or Hybrid vehicles actually on Australian roads at present, this is an extraordinary good effort by EV owners.

In round numbers, each and every EV driver must have run-over or come close to cleaning-up 2 dozen blind people since purchasing their vehicles.

That's quite a score.

I've only managed to just miss a few phone Zombies so far. I'm embarrassed to say my score is still zero for my first golden retriever and white cane carrying owner.

In desperation have tried several runs around my local Spec Savers car park, but to no avail. I guess it's the bright red duco that gives my car away.

As to whether the visually impaired population saw any of the other 19.2 million vehicles on Australian roads headed their way is not made by clear by this astounding survey...which lays the blame squarely at the feet of EV's because they are simply "too quiet" and pose a clear threat to those whose vision is terribly unclear.

The Monash uni accident centre has some explaining to do....why is my score so low? But if truth be told.... their study is a steaming crock of BS.