Many places do regulate the noise levels of exhausts, which seems a bit more appropriate and less punitive than permitting any exhaust and hoping people don't die as a result. The penalties for noncompliance are obviously not as high as jail time, but at least to me, (among other things) there is an element of premeditation or willfulness missing in these deaths.

God that would honestly be a dream come true actually

I dream of a day when light and noise pollution are taken seriously. Its exhausting walking beside a busy road with the roar of traffic. You see the birds don't even bother to try and sing anymore. They are just silent and isolated until they get further away. Visual pollution from advertising would be great to curb as well.

Rural person here from Wales where sonic booms from military aircraft were moderately common.

Animals panic when they hear the boom: they tend to stampede, fall off cliffs, break legs, trample each other, lambs get separated, break through hedges and into traffic.

The booms were severe enough to occassionally shatter the Royal Doulton in the house, much to my mother's disgust.