This article is very timely!…
This article is very timely! My neighbor was backing out her new small hybrid SUV and I heard a god awful noise, sounded like a damaged backup old school "beep beep" from a large dump truck. Since I have heard the noise, I now hear it often from other cars. My 2021 Tacoma beeps when you shut off, even after key taken out. Have to open and close door to silent.
The other thing I'm not a fan of (but maybe I will be when I'm older and my brain starts to get foggy.... is if you open the car door on some cars while backing up at slow speed or moving forward slowly it violently shifts into park. Had an E350 that did this and the first time I was worried it damaged the transmission. I understand that it is for safety as people have been run over by their own cars but I wish this could be turned off.
My old SAAB had a great feature. you would hit one button called "night panel" and it would shut all lights off, much better night vision. Too bad GM killed Saab.
I like your idea of a Silent Panel button on cars.