New 'Noise Cameras' Will Mean Fines For Loud Cars And Bikes
From bus lane cameras to good-old-fashioned speed traps, there are multiple ways for motorists to get papped and fined by the authorities. And soon, there’ll be a new way to get a penalty charge notice landing on your doormat in the UK.
The government’s Department For Transport will be testing acoustic cameras in multiple locations over the next seven months. If a passing vehicle is detected - via a microphone - to be breaching legal noise limits for road usage, a photo will be taken to pick up its number plate.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has said that the technology is intended to counter the UK’s police force - which has received various funding cuts over the last few years - being too overstretched to combat “boy racers in souped-up vehicles” breaking noise rules.
However, there’ll also be plenty of motorbikes out there which stand a good chance of setting off such devices. If you’ve been running your cans without baffles, you might want to think about popping them back in quite soon.
Motorcycle Industry Association CEO Tony Cambell said:
“With growing pressure on the environment, including noise pollution, illegal exhausts fitted by some riders attract unwanted attention to the motorcycle community and do nothing to promote the many benefits motorcycles can offer.”
If the test is successful, there’ll be a full rollout of these noise cameras. The UK won’t be the first country to go down this route, however - similar tech is already in use in the USA. Meanwhile in Edmonton, Canada last year, a trial backfired when road users treated systems with decibel noise displays - which the authorities couldn’t yet use to issue fines - as scoreboards…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
So cars with active exhausts (fitted from factory) such as a brand new Aventador only need to keep it quiet under a certain RPM will get fined because they are near or on the rev limiter at the wrong time. Yeah that seems totally fair….
And yes I can understand cars with aftermarket exhausts can breach a certain noise level. But really? These cameras in London possibly yes. In the very quiet Scottish Highlands or most of the British countryside? No. Just no.
What if somebody uses their horn because somebody else ticked them off, and get a ticket for it?
now heres an idea
what if someone gos to all these noise cameras in the country and just stick a never-ending alarm clock right next to the microphone.
Has anyone else noticed that in recent years it feels like new bikes are way louder than new performance cars?
I can’t believe I’m saying this but I agree with this.
I live near a motorway and sometimes I get woke up by idiots on motorcycles who are too selfish to realize that they are driving near a residential area. And my house is sound isolated, people with simple double glass windows have an even worst experience.
This shouldn’t be implemented everywhere because let’s be honest in some parts of the countryside this is not needed. But near residential areas? Do you need help installing them? I’m here if you need a hand.
I think its kinda lame that they are finning people for having semi loud cars, i mean it may be annoying to other drivers but making them pay for being to loud is just pathetic
But, why? I’ve never seen a country go to such lengths to combat a minor, just frowned upon issue. People don’t regularly drive around in cars that Colin Furze made.
Well i’m boned…. my FD is a nightmare to keep quiet, and I’ve tried a number of exhausts
This is dumb… beyond dumb, I can see this in residential areas. But I don’t see anything wrong wit loud cars on the motorway, or turnpike or highway or whatever you call them there.
They wanna make us live in a I-robot society with zero liberty and enjoyment outside of contributing with your work to taxes until you die. Fouck that shit ! I have way enough $ to go live in a cool emerging country, with little to zero regulation like we got in the good old times, enjoying my loud exhaust in a Safari RS3 <3 Fouck them, I’m out !