Stop that noise!

Paul Pace asks: What rights do residents living next to main roads have, now that we are in the EU, to reduce or if possible eliminate noise pollution caused by light and heavy vehicles? Is the government obliged to install noise absorbers along the roads?

Noise policy is still a recent development in the EU's overall environmental policy and therefore one cannot say that noise on our roads is fully addressed. But some steps have been taken.

Up till 2002, noise pollution was only tackled at EU level on a sector-by-sector basis, such as noise emissions by motor vehicles, aeroplanes, household goods and construction machinery. For instance, the noise limit value for cars was set at 74dB. For heavy lorries it was set at 80dB whereas for motorcycles it was set at between 75 and 80dB depending on the speed of the vehicle.

However, these standards are addressed to manufacturers and apply to newly manufactured vehicles, not to all vehicles on the road.

Interestingly, however, EU law on vehicle roadworthiness testing (VRT) also covers noise pollution as one of the nuisance factors that should be checked as part of the VRT test. This should have a mitigating impact on the overall noise levels on our roads, even if it may not address it comprehensively.

VRT testing is fully applicable in Malta and should be undertaken properly.

In 2002, a new EU law was drawn up where member states were required to draw up "noise maps", that is, to identify major sources of pollution and their measurement according to the methods put forward in the directive. Member states have various deadlines ranging from 2005 till 2014 to implement the provisions in this directive. I am not aware of whether any "noise map" has been drawn up for Malta yet and I would be interested to see what picture it would give of our situation, although it may not take much to guess.

As to the installation of noise absorbers on the roads, this is not an EU requirement and member states are not, as such, required by EU law to install them.

Rather than traffic, the most far-reaching EU law on noise pollution remains the law that tackles noise at work.

As a result, workers who are exposed to noise levels above 85dB(A) must be informed of potential risks to their hearing and provided with personal ear protectors as well as regular hearing checks. If the noise level exceeds 90dB(A), more drastic measures must be taken to reduce noise levels and even to delimit by signs and restrict access to such areas.

A new EU law that enters into force in all EU countries next year will set a daily noise exposure limit of 87dB(A) and require that the risks arising from exposure to noise be eliminated at their source or reduced to a minimum. 

This year, the EU Agency for Safety and Health at Work is focusing on noise levels at work and will dedicate its Health and Safety Week in October to the theme "Stop That Noise!"

The initiative will highlight the serious risks of prolonged exposure to loud noise. Apart from hearing disabilities, loud noise at work can also cause an increased risk of workplace accidents and in the case of pregnant workers, harm the unborn child.

It is claimed that one third of Europe's workers are exposed to high levels of noise for more than a quarter of their working time. 

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