Study: EV One-Pedal Mode Causes 9x More Pedal Confusion Crashes Than Gas Cars

A recent report released by the German Insurers Accident Research (UDV), a research institute under Germany's insurance industry, indicates that the widespread use of single-pedal driving mode in electric vehicles significantly increases the risk of traffic accidents caused by pedal confusion. Based on data from nearly 500 severe traffic crashes between 2019 and 2022, the study found that the rate of pedal-confusion-related accidents in electric vehicles is nine times higher than that of comparable internal combustion engine vehicles. Single-pedal mode uses regenerative braking to enable both acceleration and deceleration through the accelerator pedal alone, reducing reliance on the brake pedal. However, prolonged use can alter drivers’ muscle memory, making them more likely to mistakenly press the accelerator instead of the brake in emergency situations, thereby causing accidents. The study also revealed that nearly half of the drivers involved in confirmed pedal-confusion accidents were aged over 75. Researchers suggest that older drivers, whose muscle memory is more ingrained and whose emergency response times are slower, may constitute a high-risk group. Additionally, the report highlights that collisions involving pedestrians frequently occur when electric vehicles start moving at low speeds, reverse, or turn at intersections with poor lighting—situations where predictive blind spots increase collision risks. The findings underscore the need for enhanced safety design in complex low-speed driving scenarios.