From the "why even bother" files

Not really legally related but an interesting problem. California State Senator Alan Lowenthal feels that electric cars are too quiet and proposed a bill, which passed and is up with the governor.

It would establish a committee to study the issue and recommend ways the vehicles could make more noise. The recommendations would be due by 2010.

Now, I can surely think of one way for full electric cars to make noise. The concern is that blind and visually impaired people would not be able to hear a car approaching and could be hit. Here's my question: couldn't that be solved by regular tort liability? The car companies would be better at figuring out what's the appropriate noise level to do things, versus the state of California (potential for 50 different nonsensical state regulations as well).