Noisy drivers could face £100 fines thanks to new cameras
Noisy drivers could be silenced for good with fines of around £100, driving licence points, re-education courses and vehicle seizures if live enforcement trials of noise cameras go ahead. An independent report put forward to the Government, and highlighted by TrackDays.co.uk, could result in guidance being issued to local authorities setting out minimum requirements and best practice for the use of noise cameras.
An enforcement threshold of 95 decibel (dB) LAFmax at 7.5m on roads with a speed limit of 50mph or less has been proposed which would mean that drivers of any car or motorcycle emitting noise over that level could be punished. 95dB is as loud as an electric drill while 90db is the sound level of a shouted conversation and 100db in the noise level found in a night club.
The new laws could be implemented following successful roadside trials that cost £300,000 at four locations to test the technology, with the report produced for the Department for Transport (DfT) stating: "As noise cameras have been found to operate effectively at roadside environments, the next step for the project would be to progress to a live enforcement trial."
Under current legislation, the maximum noise a car registered since 2016 can make on a public road is 72 dB, while the legal limit for vehicles registered after 2007 but before 2016 is 74db. Dan Jones, operations manager at TrackDays.co.uk, said: "Noisy cars on public roads can have a significant detrimental impact on other road users' health, let alone being a nuisance in the neighbourhoods where they are driven."
Among the possible deterrents to stop excessively loud vehicles on public roads are fines of around £100, penalty points, re-education courses and vehicle seizures. There are a number of regulations that could be used to enforce punishments, including the Police Reform Act 2002, section 52, under the offence 'Vehicles used in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance'.
Reuben Peckham, director at Intelligent Instruments, said: "The findings from the DfT trials align with our own experience operating noise camera technology in eight cities across three continents. This technology can accurately detect vehicles exceeding legal noise limits, helping to reduce disruption for those living, working, and studying in affected areas. This kind of technology is a vital step towards more effective enforcement and quieter communities."
Dan said: "Driving a high-performance supercar provides a thrill unlike any other and hearing the roar of the engine is part of the enjoyment. Doing this on a race track is the safest place and can be appreciated without disturbing others."