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A third of drivers regularly hear vehicles that are too
noisy
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Government estimates cost of urban road noise is up to
£10bn
Drivers want to see cameras that can automatically detect
vehicles with illegally loud exhausts or whose engines are revved
unnecessarily rolled out across the UK, according to new RAC
research.
Six-in-10 drivers (58%) questioned by the RAC said they would be
in favour of so-called ‘noise cameras’ being widely used once the
findings of the Department for Transport’s £300,000 trials, which
began last October, are revealed. Only a fifth (22%) were against
the idea, with a similar proportion (20%) unsure.
The cameras, which are triggered by a number of microphones, can
pinpoint vehicles exceeding the 74-decibel legal limit as they
pass by. Pictures of vehicle numberplates together with
recordings of the vehicle noise are then used by local police to
identify and fine drivers. Trials took place in Bradford, Great
Yarmouth, Birmingham and South Gloucestershire near Bristol.
A third (34%) of those who took part in the RAC study said they
regularly hear loud revving engines or excessively loud exhausts.
This rose to nearly half of drivers in London (47%) and to 40% in
Wales and Scotland. Half of all drivers (51%) questioned said
they occasionally hear one or more vehicles with particularly
loud exhausts.
Asked for their opinions about whether the current £50
on-the-spot fine for a vehicle breaching the 74-decibel limit is
appropriate, drivers were split. Four-in-10 (39%) felt the fine
had been set at the right level whereas 37% disagreed, and a
quarter (24%) were undecided. Of those who felt the fine wasn’t
severe enough, 43% thought it should carry a £200 fine and a
driving ban until the exhaust was found to comply with the legal
decibel limit. Among Londoners this shot up to more than
two-thirds (67%).
Road noise is known to contribute to health problems, such as
heart attacks, strokes and dementia, yet there is no requirement
for MOT testers to use decibel meters to check exhaust noise
levels. The Government estimates the annual social cost of urban
road noise, including lost productivity from sleep disturbance
and health costs, is up to £10bn**.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Our research with
drivers shows there is a very strong desire to put an end to the
scourge of excessively noisy vehicles that disturb the peace all
around the country.
“It’s plain wrong that those who have fitted their cars with
modified exhausts, some motorbike riders and supercar owners can
currently just get away with making an unacceptable amount of
noise. Fortunately, the Department for Transport’s recent noise
camera trials may provide the solution. We hope the findings are
positive and that the technology can be quickly and
cost-efficiently rolled out to the worst affected areas.
“There is no good reason why cars and motorbikes should make so
much noise, so the sooner effective camera enforcement can be put
in place the better.”
Roads Minister said: “Boy racers are an
anti-social menace and we have extensively trialled noise camera
technology in various parts of the country over the past year.
“We are currently analysing data from the trials and will update
in due course on any future measures which will help bring peace
and tranquillity back to our towns, cities and villages.”
The London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea was the first local
authority to trial acoustic cameras in May 2022.***
Ends
Notes to Editors
* Based on an RAC Opinion Panel online survey with 1,424 drivers
carried out 9-18 December 2022
** The Department for Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
estimates that the annual social cost of urban road noise in
England is £7 to 10 billion, placing it at a similar magnitude to
road accidents (£9 billion). https://www.cieh.org/media/4898/cieh-noise-survey-findings-2019_20.pdf
*** https://www.kcfc.org.uk/news/new-acoustic-cameras-approved
