From 1 November, all new electric vehicles (EVs) sold in Australia must be fitted with an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) — a safety feature that emits a sound when travelling at or below 25 km/h to warn pedestrians of a vehicle’s presence.
The move has been hailed as a major win by Vision Australia, following years of advocacy to address the growing safety risks posed by silent EVs.
“Vision Australia has been calling for an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) to be introduced in Australia since 2018,” said Chris Edwards, Vision Australia’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs and Advocacy. “Our research found that 35% of people who are blind or have low vision have had a collision with a silent vehicle. Further reporting shows that pedestrian road crashes cost the Australian community over $1.2 billion each year.”
With EVs predicted to make up 90% of Australia’s vehicle fleet by 2050, Edwards said the change could not come soon enough.
“All pedestrians should have the right to feel safe and confident when navigating public spaces, and this mandate will ensure they will. AVAS will save lives.”
Aligning with global safety standards
Australia’s new AVAS rule brings it into line with international jurisdictions such as the European Union, United States, and Japan, where acoustic alerting systems have been mandatory for several years.
“We are ecstatic and congratulate the current federal government for listening to our concerns and acting on this very important issue,” Edwards said. “It’s been a long road, but through persistence and putting the safety of Australia’s blind and low vision community in front of the government, we’ve achieved the result we wanted. We also recognise the proactive step the government has taken in expanding the requirement to include electric trucks, buses, and other heavy vehicles.”
What it means for fleets
For Fleet Managers, the AVAS mandate is a reminder that safety innovation is not limited to crash protection or driver-assist technology. Pedestrian detection, sound emission, and accessibility are becoming key compliance considerations for all new vehicles.
As the Australian market transitions toward zero-emission vehicles under the National Vehicle Emissions Standards (NVES), OEMs and fleet operators will need to ensure that both light and heavy EVs meet the AVAS standardbefore delivery or registration.
For mixed fleets, this adds another dimension to vehicle specification reviews, particularly for local government, utilities, and delivery operations where vehicles frequently operate at low speeds in pedestrian-heavy areas.
