06 · Pedestrians
Pedestrian deaths have climbed from 133 in 2021 to 195 in 2025.
That's the highest since 2009. About two in three pedestrians killed are men. Australia's road data doesn't record whether an electric vehicle was involved, so no deaths here can be put down to EVs. The research below is context only.
All pedestriansMale pedestrians
Police-reported road deaths, all ages. Source: Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (2026).
Do quiet electric vehicles play a part? The research is mixed.
British study: per distance travelled, electric and hybrid cars had a higher rate of pedestrian casualties than petrol and diesel cars, especially in towns and cities.
Edwards, P. J., Moore, S., & Higgins, C. (2024). Pedestrian safety on the road to net zero: Cross-sectional study of collisions with electric and hybrid-electric cars in Great Britain. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 78(8), 487.A later British analysis found pedestrians were no more likely to be hit by fully electric cars. Hybrids had a higher casualty rate, but the injuries were less severe.
Wadud, Z. (2025). Comparing pedestrian safety between electric and internal combustion engine vehicles. Nature Communications.Monash University (MUARC), commissioned by the federal government, examined the benefits of mandatory warning sounds on quiet vehicles in Australia, especially for people who are blind or have low vision.
Lawrence, B., Fitzharris, M., Liu, S., & Newstead, S. (2023). Enhancing the safety of Quiet Road Transport Vehicles (QRTV): Crash reduction benefits of the fitment of Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) in Australia. Monash University Accident Research Centre.