Well it was a secondary underlying theme to the lousy movie "The Dilemma".
I'm sure it can be done but the question is whether someone wants it. Many in that class would probably adjust quicker to the silence of EV's than a lie.
Do keep in mind that engine noise is not only beneficial to the driver but cyclists, other motorists and at crosswalks as well.
It's not a problem that is easily solved and satisfied by all parties.
> Do keep in mind that engine noise is not only beneficial to the driver but cyclists, other motorists and at crosswalks as well.
As a pedestrian, I disagree. Cars make far too much noise. People will adapt to them being quieter by using their eyes and looking both ways. I look forward to the day when living in a city doesn't mean hearing a constant drone of traffic.
In Dublin, the operators of our light tram system (the Luas) were forced to add bells after several collisions and near misses with drivers and pedestrians.
Here in the SF Bay Area, we routinely have collisions between our (loud, and belled) train and drivers and pedestrians. It turns out, sometimes people run into trains. Even noisy ones.
You can only see cars when you're facing in the right direction and have a direct line of sight. Sure, if we redesigned every street on the planet to have perfect visibility with no blind corners, there'd be little need to worry. This may involve demolishing a few million towns and cities though.
So are knives, a clearly dangerous object! Knives should be regulated to emit constant noise.
No, seriously, I think you do the blind a disservice. I don't think that blind people rely on, "Hey, did I hear something" to mean, "I can blithely cross the street without danger."