E-scooters could make a sound like a tuba to warn pedestrians of their presence and slash the risk of accidents, researchers say

  • E-scooters could be fitted with speakers with a ‘tuba-like’ sound to warn people
  • The vehicles currently make a whirring noise not loud enough for pedestrians
  • Firms TIER, Lime and Dott are working with experts at University College London
  • TIER promises to use the finalised sound and make it available to other firms 

Electric scooters could be fitted with speakers that make a ‘tuba-like’ sound to warn pedestrians amid rising injuries. 

Researchers are working with e-scooter rental firms in Government trials around the UK. They are developing a noise to alert people to e-scooters, which currently only make a low whirring sound. 

The sound with the greatest impact is thought to be a repeated sharp ‘tsh’ – like a cymbal – followed by a tuba-like ‘hum’. 

Scooter firms TIER, Lime and Dott are working with a research team at University College London. Experts want the sound to be different from traffic without adding to noise pollution. 

Electric scooters could be fitted with speakers that make a ¿tuba-like¿ sound to warn pedestrians amid rising injuries

Electric scooters could be fitted with speakers that make a ‘tuba-like’ sound to warn pedestrians amid rising injuries

Professor Nick Tyler, of UCL, said: ‘That is how we survived in the savannah thousands of years ago as our hearing system has evolved to detect small sounds that we determine are important.’ 

He told The Daily Telegraph: ‘That sound would have been something like the snapping of a twig – that would attract your attention and your vision would take over.’ 

Latest figures show that 931 people were injured in accidents involving e-scooters in the year ending June 2021, including 131 pedestrians.

Fred Jones from e-scooter company TIER told the paper: ‘Working with experts at UCL to develop an inclusive sound for e-scooters will be crucial to protecting pedestrians and road users potentially made vulnerable through the introduction of this new transport mode to the UK.’

E-scooter company TIER, which operates in York and London, has committed to adding the finalised sound to its vehicles and making it available to other companies.

The noise will likely be emitted from a small speaker attached to the devices.

Latest government figures show that 931 people were injured in accidents involving e-scooters in the year ending June 2021, including 131 pedestrians.