Safer? I don't think so. Everyone knows that a beeping sound means that a truck is backing up; However, no one knows what the static sound means.,(reply>), Agree. I live in Finland, and I'm not sure I've ever heard the white noise warning sound -- at least haven't recognized it as such. Professionals working at fenced construction sites of course would know what it is, but on the streets it could be a risk when people don't recognize it. As others have commented, (to a layperson) it sounds just like compressed air escaping, and large vehicles just seem to make that sound every now and then. At least I would have assumed it's just some onboard device that's running on compressed air.