Newly-introduced hybrid and electric cars will now need to produce a sound when travelling at low speeds to alert pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users of their presence.
Hybrid, electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles newly introduced to the Australian market are now required to produce a sound at low speeds to warn pedestrians, including those who are visually impaired.
Known as an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS), the sound is played at speeds up to 20km/h, when the vehicle is traversing car parks, intersections, driveways, and other areas where pedestrians and cars share space.
The legislation – announced in 2024 – came into force on Saturday, November 1, 2025, for cars, utes, trucks, and buses newly introduced to the market that can drive "one forward drive gear or in reverse without an internal combustion engine operating".
All new vehicles on sale that fit this definition – across hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric, and hydrogen fuel-cell power – will need to meet the rules by November 1, 2026.
The deadlines are determined by when the paperwork approving the vehicle for sale was filed, so models still to launch in Australia may lack the low-speed alert if their manufacturer received the green light to sell the car before November 1, 2025.
It does not apply to cars already sold to customers and on the road.
Hybrid and electric cars are not as easy for pedestrians and cyclists to hear as vehicles with petrol and diesel engines that are always operating, increasing the risk of a collision.
Research conducted by advocacy group Vision Australia – as reported by Drive last year – found 35 per cent of people deemed to be blind or with low vision have experienced a near-miss or a collision with a 'silent' vehicle.
Similar legislation mandating low-speed warning sounds is already in place overseas, and many vehicles sold in the Australian market are already fitted with the technology.
Modelling conducted by the Federal Government has estimated the low-speed warning alerts could avoid 68 fatalities, 2675 serious injuries and 2962 minor injuries by 2060, while saving the community $208 million.
"The Government consulted on a draft Impact Analysis proposing a mandate for AVAS for light vehicles and it was strongly supported by state and territory governments, the blind and low-vision community, and vehicle manufacturers," the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts said in a media statement last year.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
