A motoring industry body has issued an urgent warning that heavy electric vehicles could breach crash barriers on UK motorways, potentially putting lives at risk.
The Vehicle Restraint Manufacturers Association (VRMA) claims that outdated safety barriers are not designed to withstand impacts from heavier electric vehicles.
The group has written to the Government highlighting that current barriers may fail to contain electric cars during collisions.
This could lead to vehicles breaking through barriers and ploughing into oncoming traffic on busy roads.
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A transport body has warned that the heaviest electric vehicles could pose issues on motorways
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The VRMA said the issue represents a “critical and largely overlooked” safety concern as Britain transitions to electric vehicles.
The weight difference between electric and traditional petrol and diesel vehicles is at the heart of the safety concerns.
While conventional petrol or diesel cars typically weigh around 1.5 tonnes, electric vehicles can be significantly heavier, at between 1.8 and 2.2 tonnes.
This poses a problem because current “vehicle restraint systems” – the metal barriers lining UK roads – only comply with standards dating back to 1998, which were tested using 1.5-tonne combustion engine vehicles.
The VRMA warns that the increased kinetic energy from heavier electric cars travelling at the same speeds will “increase the force exerted on safety barriers” during collisions, creating a “higher risk of a barrier breach” on motorways and A-roads.
In its letter to the Government and National Highways, the VRMA is calling for “urgent research, funding and policy updates” to ensure national infrastructure can withstand impacts from electric vehicles.
The association warns that “high-risk areas”, including bridges and high-speed roads, should be checked as a priority.
“The failure to address this issue could lead to preventable fatalities, more severe accidents and legal liabilities for governing authorities,” the letter warns.
Colin Abbott, joint chairman of the VRMA and director of SSR Limited, said: “My concern is that the lives and safety of motorists driving electric vehicles are being put at risk.
“The largest percentage of barriers are meeting the lowest performance level required. The barrier must withstand being hit by a 1.5-tonne car going at a certain speed.”
National Highways commissioned a £30,000 study in 2023 to assess the impact of heavier electric vehicles on crash barriers, although the report has not been publicly released.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport: “Standards on high-speed roadside barriers are continually under review and National Highways is currently exploring any updates needed.
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“Meanwhile, there is a comprehensive programme of upgrades in place and National Highways has installed or renewed over 900 miles of safety barriers between 2020 and 2024, prioritising the busiest motorways to ensure maximum benefit.”