Please don’t confuse this with an anti-EV thread, because it’s not (and I’m not). Also apologies that this will be a long post, but I think the context is key.
Today I was sat first in the queue at a set of traffic lights, in the left of two lanes. To the right of me - in the second of the two lanes - pulled up a very nice Tesla Model Y.
Both lanes are narrow - and constrained by pedestrian refuges - as there’s a pedestrian crossing on both our side and the opposite side of the junction.
Whilst we waited a pedestrian crossed the road directly ahead of us, crossing from left to right, and a teenager on a bike crossed quickly behind the pedestrian.
Both pedestrian and cyclist started crossing too late as the lights turned green (for us) after they started crossing, but no doubt expected to make it across in time.
Whilst cutting it fine and very fine respectively, they would have made it across with time to spare, however the Tesla driver didn’t do what they expected.
When the lights changed to red-amber he accelerated - I would say with foot flat to the floor - and he missed the cyclist by half the width of a small miracle.
If those events were re-run one thousand times then I am sure that the cyclist would have been hit hard by a Tesla in all but one, and thankfully that’s what happened today.
The pedestrian and cyclist were in plain sight and he should have easily anticipated that they wouldn’t make it if he jumped the green light accelerated hard, but he did,
It made me wonder whether the incredible acceleration offered by relatively low-cost EVs (for the acceleration) has increased real-world risk for other road users.
Idiots and very quick cars have been around for longer than fast EVs, however the cost meant that you rarely came across an inexperienced idiot in a very quick car.
A passion for cars and very deep pockets have traditionally been required to end up with a car so quick. However in 2022, all that’s needed is a company car.
I’m not suggesting that EV drivers or company car drivers are idiots. I am suggesting that incredible acceleration is now available to people without interest nor ability.
I would say that the risk profile has changed dramatically and will catch out those drivers and other road users. I now see multiple quick EVs on every journey.
Certainly that pedestrian and cyclist didn't expect the Tesla driver to deploy maximum acceleration before the lights had turned green, and it almost cost them their lives.
I suspect that the Tesla driver was showing me how much quicker his car was than mine, but he could have been the type who accelerates hard every time due to novelty.
Am I being dramatic having witnessed a miracle, or is there something in it?
