Further proof government officials are incompetent

Government regulators at work. One of the great things about electric cars is the peace and quiet they afford. Imagine driving at low speeds with your window open having to hear some artificial noise. With autonomous technology coming, cars will know when a pedestrian is there. Did you ever wonder how far up there they can get their head?

Way back in 2010, Congress declared that quiet vehicles such as electric and hybrid cars must make some kind of noise at low speeds to alert pedestrians, cyclists, and the blind to their presence. After many delays, this legislation was supposed to take effect Sep. 1, 2019, however, the U.S. Department of Transportation on Monday finalized rules requiring half of all hybrid and electric cars comply by that date, with the rest due to be in compliance by 2020.

At speeds below 18.6 mph, these cars will be required to emit some kind of noise to make their presence better known to others in the surrounding area. At higher speeds noise from the tires, wind, and elsewhere makes these devices unnecessary. Nissan had argued that the alert was only needed up to 12.4 mph, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did not agree.

The NHTSA says that the new rules will help prevent 2,400 injuries each year by 2020. The agency expects about 530,000 quiet vehicles will be equipped with audible alerts by 2020 at a cost of $40 million annually.

Rather than a siren, which would be illegal for street use, regulators are considering allowing manufacturers to offer a variety of sounds their quiet vehicles can make, which the driver can select. Can we have a screaming V10 F1 engine sound please? That will get the walking Zombies attention.