It’s been proposed that you simply put an 8-ohm load across the audio output instead of connecting the speaker. In theory, the system is sensing the disconnecting of the speaker but a resistor should trick it into thinking the speaker is still hooked up.
I saw where someone was going to do that but they never came back to us with the results.
I have mixed feelings about this. I am somewhat skeptical that EV's and hybrids are any more dangerous to pedestrians than the typical modern gasoline car which can also be extremely quiet at low speeds. I wonder if there were actual studies done, or did someone just invent a problem that doesn't exist.
As for enforcement, that seems nearly impossible. How exactly is a police officer going to know if the sound has been disabled? Actually how are they even supposed to know which cars require it since it is only mandated on newer cars. So does a police officer say to themselves, "Hey that's a 2019 Accord hybrid pulling up to the light, it's supposed to have pedestrian alert." They then roll down their window and listen as the Accord drives slowly past them. Hearing only the tires squealing they turn on their flashers and pull the offender over.
As for if a pedestrian is hit by a car, even if the lawyer or insurance company suspects that the warning was disabled (which would be one in a million), how do they prove that? They would have to impound the car. Presumably by then the owner will have reconnected the speaker.
I'm not advocating one way or another, if this saves lives then I guess we can put up with a little bit of noise. But if there is no evidence for it then it's less of a concern.