Deployment of Noise Measuring Instruments at Speeding Locations Given New Vehicle Noise Standards from 2023
Ministry of Sustainability and the EnvironmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether noise measuring instruments will be deployed with speed cameras to enforce new vehicle noise standards starting in 2023. Ms Joan Pereira raised the query regarding speeding-prone areas, to which Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that compliance is currently assessed through mandatory periodic inspections and joint enforcement operations. She clarified that there are no immediate plans for roadside noise sensors because of the technical difficulty in attributing noise to specific vehicles amidst surrounding traffic. Nevertheless, she confirmed that NEA will continue monitoring new technologies that could eventually strengthen enforcement against vehicles violating noise emission standards.
Transcript
23 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment in view of the impending adoption of the new vehicle noise standards from next year onwards, whether there are plans to deploy noise measuring instruments together with speed cameras in areas where cars often speed.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: Excessive vehicle noise is caused by a variety of factors, including vehicle design, illegal modifications, poor maintenance and inconsiderate driver behaviour. NEA sets noise emission standards that new vehicles must adhere to upon registration, as well as in-use noise emission standards which ensure that vehicles used on the roads are regularly serviced, well-maintained and do not emit excessive noise.
Compliance with noise emission standards will continue to be assessed during mandatory periodic inspections at authorised inspection centres. NEA, Traffic Police and LTA will also continue to conduct joint enforcement operations for vehicular-related offences on our roads, including violations of the noise emission standards.
Currently, there are no plans to deploy noise measuring instruments along the roads to enforce against vehicles that violate the noise emission standards. Unlike speeding offences, which can be visually captured using speed cameras, it is challenging to attribute the source of noise to a specific vehicle on the road, due to interference from surrounding traffic and other sources. Nonetheless, NEA will continue to monitor new technologies that could strengthen enforcement against vehicles that violate the noise emission standards.