Press Release: Commission welcomes Parliament vote on decreasing vehicle noise

On 2 April 2014, the European Parliament voted in favour of a Commission proposal to decrease vehicle noise. Noise limit values will ultimately be decreased by 4 dB(A) for passenger cars, vans, buses and coaches and for trucks by 3 dB(A). Altogether, these measures will reduce vehicle noise nuisance by some 25%. Despite increasing traffic, noise emissions limits for vehicles have not changed since 1996. The limits values will be decreased in 3 steps: The first step will apply two years after publication of the final approval of today's proposal, followed by the second step in 5/7 years and the third step in 10/12 years.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Enterprise and Services: Industry sectors: Automotive industry http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/automotive/index_en.htm

European Commission: Enterprise and Industry: Automotive Industry: Environment: Noise emissions of motor vehicles http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/automotive/environment/noise/index_en.htm

European Parliament: Press Release, 02.04.14: MEPs back law to curb harmful traffic noise http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140331IPR41178/html/MEPs-back-law-to-curb-harmful-traffic-noise

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