NOISE DETECTING CAMERAS – THE LATEST CHALLENGE FOR CLASSIC OWNERS?

Modern vehicles produce far less engine noise compared to models from 10 years ago, while hybrid and electric vehicles are whisper quiet. So, while there’s no doubt that classics produce more noise, why have noise pollution concerns led to the Department for Transport (DfT) trialling noise cameras in Bradford, Bristol, Great Yarmouth and Birmingham – and what does this mean for classic owners?   

Traffic noise – including road, rail and air - is the second most significant cause of ill health in Western Europe behind air pollution, according to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It calculated that one million healthy life years are lost each year due to noise pollution, having been linked to stress, strokes, dementia and cardiovascular disease. 

There’s now more traffic and associated noise on our roads than ever before. Figures from the DfT and DVLA showed that the number of cars in Britain has increased by 39.6% in the past 25 years, reaching 31,878,624 by the end of 2021. AutoTrader recently predicted that older cars (which can become noisier with age or modification) will become more popular as we approach the 2030 ban on the sale of pure combustion engines, with more than 15.4 million ten-year-old cars set to roam Britain’s roads by 2027. 

But what constitutes a noisy vehicle, and what kind of driving is picked up by noise cameras? All cars built since 2016 and sold in Europe must meet ‘Individual Type Approvement’ (IVA) and be no louder than 74 decibels, when accelerating and changing gear in relation to the placement of the noise camera microphone. The volume of passing traffic will be measured and photographs will be taken of offending vehicles by ANPR cameras. 

Standard factory ‘hot hatchbacks’ from the past decade have become noticeably quieter. Models such as the 2013-17 Ford Fiesta ST feature much quieter exhausts than previous generations, instead offering synthetic exhaust noise through the vehicle sound system. This has been seen as a compromise from manufacturers looking to reduce government and industry concerns over excessive engine or exhaust noise, whilst simultaneously pleasing the performance driver’s demand for a decent soundtrack during spirited driving.   

The ‘boy racer’ section of the enthusiast community is being specifically targeted by the new noise cameras. An increasing number of rowdy drivers are ditching the quieter exhaust systems and ‘deleting’ the sound resonators for performance enhancing reasons, which inevitably ends up as a feature of antisocial driving.  

However, excessively loud exhausts, rapid vehicle acceleration or engine revving can be illegal and lead to fines from the police under existing noise pollution laws. This behaviour has led to the new noise camera trial, designed to bring more peace and quiet to rural, residential and city roads. Drivers in breach of the regulations can be issued with fines of £50 or more. 

Chelsea in London is a well-known magnet for supercar drivers, but this has brought complaints about drivers of supercars and motorbikes revving their engines excessively. As a result, Kensington and Chelsea Council installed four noise cameras in 2020, and by March 2022 had issued 144 fines to motorists caught driving in a way that breached the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) by ‘racing or revving.’ 

What do noise cameras mean for owners of noisy classics? Kensington and Chelsea Council has confirmed it will not hit drivers of classics with penalties, even if they break the new decibel limits, as long as they drive sensibly. It’s expected the other councils that have installed noise cameras will follow suit. 

Most vehicles, including imports and classics aged over 10 years, will not need vehicle approval. Therefore, however loud your classic car or motorcycle is when idling or driving sensibly, it shouldn’t be a cause for concern in areas that feature noise cameras. 

Have you ever been called out for driving a noisy car or bike? What do you make of other motorists that display antisocial noise pollution?