[user104658]

Yes phones are another issue, should be part of hazard perception test not if they aren't already: if you see someone walking along the side of the road looking down at a phone pay extra-close attention to them because I've had NUMEROUS people (often teens) step onto the road without looking at all. Distracted and on autopilot.

And I drive a diesel SUV, she certainly is not quiet.

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Quite a few electric vehicles these days have some sort of "artificial" noise don't they, to warn pedestrians of their presence.

I read something about them having an artificial high-frequency noice too, above human hearing but so that animals can hear them. Wildlife and domestic cats have adapted to co-exist with traffic (semi) successfully but they do it mainly by sound not sight... silent vehicles aren't ideal.