Current law on traffic noise is inadequate

Noise levels from certain vehicles have got so bad that I contacted Environmental Health to ask them to do something. They informed me that, unlike other forms of pollution, they had no power to control transport noise pollution. They told me it was a matter for the police and therefore the Committee for Home Affairs would be responsible for changing the law.

I went to the police station and while they were sympathetic and agreed there was a problem, they told me the current law is to all intents and purposes unenforceable. This is because it uses the subjective term ‘excessive noise’ rather than imposing a legal limit such as speed limits.

The World Health Organization considers noise from traffic to be one of the worst environmental stressors for humans, second only to air pollution, with significant effects on health and quality of life.

This leads me to question why Environmental Health is not responsible for setting limits on noisy vehicles and why the current law is so inadequate. Other jurisdictions set limits on noise levels. By way of example, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe sets limits of between 73 and 77 decibels for motorbikes and 82 decibels for cars.

The introduction of proper control of traffic noise pollution is a simple, cheap measure that would significantly improve the health and wellbeing of all islanders. Importantly, it can be done now without the need for spending on infrastructure.

It would be interesting to know which of the candidates in the forthcoming election would agree to the early introduction of properly enforceable measures to reduce the unnecessary blight of excessive traffic noise.

MR R. DOMAILLE

Address withheld.