Europe
Environmental Noise Directive
The Directive relating to the Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise (2002/49/EC) or END, aims to provide a common basis for tackling noise. It requires member states to prepare noise maps for centres of population of over 250,000 inhabitants, major roads, major railways and civil airports, for approval by 30 June 2007. Maps for centres of population of 100,000 - 250,000 are to be prepared for approval by 30 June 2012. The Directive also required action plans to be prepared aimed at reducing high noise levels and protecting quiet areas, by July 2008 for the first round, and by July 2013 for the subsequent round.
Find out more about noise mapping in the UK.
Reducing European Transport Noise
The EU Environmental Noise Directive aims to reduce the exposure of citizens to harmful levels of noise. To achieve this the EU has set out a rolling programme under which states must produce strategic noise maps, communicate these to the public and draw up action plans to manage the impact of noise. Noise maps have been produced for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and action plans are in place or under development. Find out more about noise mapping.
The sixth Framework Programme of the European Community is funding research programmes to reduce environmental noise across member states - transport noise is the main source.
CALM aimed to synchronise and encourage European research on transport noise - the programme ended in October 2007.
SILENCE aims to provide both the technologies for transport noise control and innovative strategies for action plans to reduce urban transport noise, which should be available in the Spring as the programme nears completion.
European NGO groups working on transport noise:
Quieter Tyres
Environmental Protection UK have been working with partner organisations, lobbying for new standards and consumer labelling for tyres, which would include a noise and CO2 rating and would enable consumers to choose quieter tyres and reduce their carbon emissions.
Quieter Tyre Regulations
New regulations Tyres in Type Approval Requirements for the General Safety of Motor Vehicles COD 2008/100, which will address tyre safety, noise and energy efficiency, were given the support of the European Parliament in March 2009. The new regulations will come into force in 2012.
This follows lobbying from a number of campaigners, including Environmental Protection UK, who wrote a joint letter in February supporting the introduction of quieter tyre standards and tyre labelling. Read our joint letter on quieter tyres.
Tyre Labelling
Meanwhile the European Parliament Industry Committee voted in favour of a new labelling system for tyres in March 2009, which will provide customers with detailed information on the energy efficiency, safety and noise performance. Labels will show ratings for energy efficiency (rolling resistance), safety (wet grip) and noise and will have to be clearly displayed wherever tyres are sold, including car dealerships.
The agreement goes further than a European Commission legal proposal issued last year, following concerted lobbying by European NGOs, and from UK transport interest groups, co-ordinated by Environmental Protection UK.
The Parliament also said the information should be printed on receipts and stamped onto the side of tyres. An EU-wide website should also be created where consumers will be able to compare the performance of different types of tyre and calculate their potential fuel savings, according to the Parliament.
The proposals need to be agreed by EU Member States before becoming law.
The UK Government are currently consulting on the EU proposals for a
Tyre Labelling Directive(comments by 7 August 2009).
Further information: