[kortilla]

No, as someone who used to live next to an expressway (45-50 mph traffic), the problem is 95% tire noise. Modern cars not accelerating make very little noise from the ICE.

The tires are like nails on a chalkboard to me after living that way for a 5 years. It cut through my apartment walls and morning rush hour served as a mandatory alarm clock.

The only time engines were an issue were people with modded exhaust or people street racing (motorcycles or cars).

[etempleton]

This is why I always think it is funny when the topic of creating fake engine noise for electric cars for safety comes up. On a normal modern car you won’t likely hear the engine unless under heavy acceleration.

[spockz]

The tire sounds are way less at low speeds. Where the sound matters for safety is where people are and around corners and situational changes. These moments tend to be where speed is Low and varying. As well of the type of sound. If you hear a revving engine come towards your direction you pay it attention.

This is why it is useful for cars to make sounds. It also is the reason why that sound is so annoying. It is a constant trigger for our brains to react.