Rules delayed to require pedestrian-warning noises from electric cars

I learned from Green Car Reports, via Reuters, that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration missed a November deadline to produce rules requiring electric and hybrid cars to emit noises to warn pedestrians.

An earlier proposal called for vehicles “to produce sounds above background noises, at speeds up to 18.6 mph” for all vehicles that “don’t emit powertrain noises.”

It’s understood that carmakers would have some leeway in choosing sounds, although certain minimum requirements will be put in place. Each vehicle of the same make and model would reportedly have to emit the same sound or sounds.

This means you couldn’t download your car noise like you do with a ring tone, which disappoints Star Trek fans everywhere.