Authorities deaf to noisy nuisance

First of all, noise pollution should be taken as seriously as other forms of pollution, as it is similarly damaging to human health. Noise pollution consistently ranks high on the list of citizens' concerns. Noise from road transport is the major source of traffic noise, particularly in Malta.

In the European Union, 55dB of road traffic noise is considered as a level potentially dangerous to health.

Notably, the Maltese Motor Vehicle Roadworthiness Test Regulations (S.L.65.15) put the exhaust sound level testing limit at 119 dB(A) for Class I Vehicles when engine revolutions are at three fourths of maximum rated speed, for Vehicle Classes II at 100 dBA for all petrol engines and for Vehicle Class III, between 101 -105 dBA for diesel engines.

While the EU Directive relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise was fully transposed by Malta in 2004, no strategic noise map had yet been submitted to the EU Commission. Yet again, Malta is miserably trailing behind (Times of Malta, May 5).

Worse still, while in Europe there are significant efforts to reduce traffic noise, in Malta the opposite happens.

It has become trendy that many local motorists modify their vehicles' (cars and motorcycles) engine exhaust systems to accentuate their vehicles' drone/exhaust noise, in breach of the Motor Vehicles Roadworthiness Test Regulations (S.L.65.15), and the Motor Vehicle Regulations (S.L 65.11).

This widespread disregard of the above mentioned regulations by motorists is there for all to see and hear except maybe for the local authorities concerned. It is obvious the competent authorities, namely the police, the Malta Transport Authority and the Malta Standards Authority, are unable or reluctant to safeguard the public health by ensuring adequate enforcement and safeguards.

As is usual with environmental matters, the health authorities are conspicuous through their silence in the belief that this is not within their remit.

The Maltese authorities' inaction and silence regarding this issue is deplorable to say the least. Shame.