Chapter 1: the working context

Noise

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In addition to danger and anxiety, the motor vehicle is responsible for a great deal of noise. This is a matter which has recently been under consideration, along with other aspects of noise, by an official committee set up by the Minister for Science.* In their Report, the Committee concluded that ‘in London (and no doubt this applies to other large towns as well) road traffic is, at the present time, the predominant source of annoyance, and no other single noise is of comparable importance’. The Committee distinguished five main kinds of noise from vehicles: propulsion noises (from engines, gears, transmissions and exhausts), horns, brake-squeal, door slamming, and loose loads or bodies. They discerned three possible lines of attack on the nuisance of traffic noise:

1. Reducing the noise emitted by vehicles 

   The Committee concluded that, while there was clear evidence that amongst certain classes of vehicle the noise levels were higher than they need be having regard to the knowledge available to manufacturers, there were nevertheless considerable difficulties in reducing the noise levels from the most frequent offenders- namely diesel-engined buses and heavy commercial vehicles.
2. Smoothing the traffic flow 

   Vehicles produce their maximum noise when accelerating in low gear. Therefore anything that can be done to keep traffic moving smoothly will tend to reduce noise.
3. Reducing traffic flows past any given spot 

   This would be done by diversionary roads and other measures of a town planning nature.

*Report of the Committee on the Problem of Noise. Cmnd. 2056, H.M.S.O. 1963.

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The Committee considered that the better sound insulation of buildings against external noise could be achieved only at the expense of modern methods of building, such as light cladding, and they concluded therefore that it would be unwise to look to better insulation for any great contribution towards the mitigation of the problem of external noise.

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We accept the Committee’s general conclusion that traffic noise is now the predominant noise nuisance in towns. We certainly agree that buses and heavy commercial vehicles are the main source of noise, though it is disappointing to learn that there is no great hope of improvement in these cases. To the five main sources of vehicle noise, we would add the noise of tyres on road surfaces, especially wet or rough surfaces. Where we are in difficulty is in deciding how serious a nuisance is constituted by traffic noise. The Committee found little evidence to show that noise causes direct physical ill-effects on people, or mental or nervous illness, but they concluded that one of the commonest and most undesirable effects is the interference with communication based on sound (e.g., conversation, teaching). Our own conclusion, based on observation and many discussions, is that traffic noise is steadily developing into a major nuisance, seriously prejudicial to the general enjoyment of towns, destructive of the amenities of dwellings on a wide scale, and interfering in no small degree with efficiency in offices and other business premises. But again, this is something which people have mostly grown up with and so tend to take very much for granted.

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The conclusions of the Committee that not a great deal can be expected towards the abatement of traffic noise either from the improved design of heavy vehicles, or from the better insulation of buildings, are extremely important. They suggest that the long term remedy must lie with town planning, encompassing at one extreme the diversion of heavy traffic flows from areas where people live, to the detailed layout of buildings and building groups at the other. This we have had very much in mind throughout the preparation of our Report.

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Even so we are convinced, from our own observation, that much noise is caused by thoughtless and careless behaviour, and could be avoided forthwith. We have in mind the slamming of doors at night, unnecessary revving of engines, all the excessive noise of motor cycles and sports cars, and (most important in our view) the rattling and banging of empty lorries, or trucks with insecure loads or loose chains or couplings. At every turn in our consideration of traffic problems, we have been impressed by the need for vehicle users to be aware of their responsibilities to the rest of the community.