Near-silent hybrid and electric vehicles can catch out even the sighted, and pose an even greater danger to the visually impaired.

A new regulation, however, will require all cars, trucks and buses sold in Australia to be fitted with an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) if they can be propelled in reverse or in at least one forward drive gear without an internal combustion engine operating.

These systems emit a sound in low-speed driving – like, for example, carparks – and myriad electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and hybrids (HEVs) in Australia already feature such systems.

Crucially, AVAS tech makes pedestrians aware an electrified vehicle is coming to reduce the risk of a collision, and soundtracks vary greatly – there's everything from the ghostly, ethereal hum o

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