Tier Mobility, which operates hire scooters in York, will add artificial noise to act as an alert for pedestriansElectric scooters will be fitted with artificial noise devices to reduce the risk of pedestrians being hit by silent riders on pavements and road crossings. Audible alerts will be emitted from battery-powered scooters for the first time after concerns over a significant expansion of the technology, The Times has learnt. Tier Mobility, which operates e-scooters in York and 80 other cities worldwide, will add the noise to its vehicles next year. Research led by the Thomas Pocklington Trust, the charity for blind and partially sighted people, will be carried out to design the warnings and establish when they should be employed. The sound is likely to be some sort of electronically generated engine noise or a constant pulse.

Source: The Times November 02, 2020 17:03 UTC