ACEA

New study gives insight in costs and benefits of further vehicle noise reduction

ACEA has commissioned an independent study to analyse the data from the recent vehicle noise monitoring period and to assess the costs and benefits of further noise reduction measures.

The study by UTAC/TüV Nord can be found here

Background:

Since 1970, four EU directives have been implemented to reduce vehicle noise levels, resulting in an overall reduction so far of 90%. The last directive, i.e. Directive 92/97/EEC, entered into force on 1 October 1996 for all vehicles and fixed the noise limits at 74 dB(A) for cars and 80 dB(A) for commercial vehicles.

At the time, it was assumed that noise limits would be further reduced with intervals of 4 to 5 years, mirroring the process followed for vehicle exhaust emission reductions. However, this approach was abandoned following the increased understanding that further vehicle noise reduction would not result in a lower noise perception by society as tyre/road noise had become the dominant noise factors. In addition, the method to test vehicle noise was no longer representative to actual driving behaviour and traffic circumstances.

Consequently, in August 2001, a tyre/road noise directive (2001/43/EC) was published and the requirements concerning tyre-noise reduction entered into force on 4 February 2004. Furthermore, the vehicle industry was requested to develop a new measurement method to reflect real operating conditions of the vehicle in traffic.

The development of a new vehicle test method started in 1998 for commercial vehicles, and in 2000 for passenger cars. The EU did not play a key role in this programme because some EU Member States argued that this work should be performed on a worldwide basis in Geneva (UNECE) and that double work in Brussels should be avoided. The EU focused on the development of a EU noise policy dealing with all sources of noise (air, rail and traffic). This EU Noise policy resulted in Directive 2002/49/EC obliging the Member States to develop noise maps (before 2008) and action plans in order to reduce noise annoyance for citizens (before 2009).

The new vehicle test method was finally accepted in Geneva and by ISO in mid-2005. It is now clear that the EU will adopt this new method and will introduce new limit levels. The EU has argued that noise limits correlating to the new test method could be deducted only from a reliable databank. Therefore, the EU introduced legislation obliging vehicle manufacturers to make parallel measurements during type-approval over a period of 3 years according to the old and the newly-proposed vehicle test method.

This monitoring period has ended in August 2010 and the European Commission will launch a stakeholder consultation to receive input for the next steps to take. The Commission has also asked a consultant to analyse the data.

ACEA has commissioned a third party to equally analyse the monitoring data and to make a cost/benefit analysis regarding a number of noise reduction scenarios. A scenario which aims at a noise reduction of 2 dB(A) in a first stage followed by a further reduction of 2 dB(A) in a second stage shows a positive cost benefit ratio.

The study by UTAC/TüV Nord can be found here

With the input from the study, ACEA will now formulate a full position paper that will also take the practical implications and possibilities into account.

Last updated: December 2010

Go back