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An article I read recently (I think it was wired but I can't find a link) that said the increase in silent hybrid/electric cars means people will start needing artificial car noise for safety (to warn pedestrians/animals/etc.).

It hinted that people will take a similar path as ringtones and start using music etc.

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Damn right. I nearly got run over by a Prius the other day, they are like stealth machines. My vote is they should blast whalesong from externally mounted speakers whenever anyone is sitting in the driver's seat.

A different article pointed out that modern cars are so quiet that most of the noise is from tires on the road, or air being displaced around the car. Engines are pretty quiet these days on most family cars. I actually listened to a Prius on the road and it really didn't seem noticeably quieter than the Hondas, etc near it.

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