Before I got my guide dog Hatti I was nearly hit twice by electric cars which were too quiet for me to hear coming.

As children we are taught to stop, look and listen before crossing the road. My macular dystrophy makes it difficult for me look, so like many other people with vision impairments I have to rely much more on my hearing to know when it is safe to cross. For me not being able to hear electric cars approach is frightening and dangerous, but it’s not just me that is affected – quiet cars put all pedestrians in danger.

New research has shown that electric and hybrid cars are 40% more likely to be involved in a collision with a pedestrian, and every year thousands more of these quiet cars are appearing on the roads. Quiet vehicles need to be fitted with effective artificial sound generators so that everyone – especially people with sight loss – can get around safely and without fear.

It’s so important that we should all be able to feel safe when out and about. If we can neither look nor listen, then we’re just left stopped.

Join me in asking the UN to ensure that electric and hybrid vehicles are audible to ensure the safety of all pedestrians.