Thursday 7th February 2013

EU to outlaw noisy cars?

New rules to turn the volume down on loud exhausts but make electric cars louder

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Apparently "persistent exposure to high levels of traffic noise can prove physically draining, disrupt organ functions and contribute to cardiovascular and other diseases." That's according to the European Parliament, which has just voted in a draft law to reduce the noise limits for vehicles, in order "to protect public health."

Yep, the EU is meddling again - and although it isn't yet forcing you to return your car to standard, it is shaping up to make heavy with the silencers. The future of the thundering V8 and the screaming V12 gets ever more fraught...

New cars will have their voices muted

Under current legislation, "standard cars" are limited to 74 decibels. The law would see this cut back to 68 decibels. "More powerful" vehicles would be allowed a margin of two to six decibels extra - though we fear the EU had hauling goods in mind with this, not performance.

As part of the proposal, MEPs also want to see a noise label introduced, along the lines of those already enforced for CO2, fuel economy and tyres. It also acknowledges vehicle noise is affected by road surface, tyres and aerodynamics.

So what if you choose to retrofit a noisier aftermarket exhaust system? European Parliament spokesperson Baptiste Chatain told us categorically "aftermarket exhausts are not covered by this legislation." In the first phase - six years after introduction - it will cover newly designed cars and then two years later all new cars sold. Expect an increasing number of carmakers suddenly offering 'dealer fit' exhausts as a result.

The new legislation has also blessed us with a new acronym: AVAS, which stands for Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems. Seems it IS possible for a car to be too quiet - the EU wants hybrid and electric vehicles to make more noise, to stop that game of 'creep up on the pedestrian'.

Let's give them a few ideas, shall we?

 

 

[The Beaver King]

Meh, I'm sure the manufacturers will find a way around it.

As long as this potential legislation doesn't apply to older cars, then I'm not particularly bothered. I can't imagine what the EU would make of my Tiv with 106db at 4,000rpm...

[TheRacingSnake]

EU = tosspots

[Sea Demon]

I wish the EU would just f*ck off!

[eliotrw]

Weak.

[StottyZr]

Well that's an annoying proposal. It'll make classic cars all the more appealing

[GrumpyTwig]

s...

[swisstoni]

We can then pay as much attention to EU regs as the rest as the EU do then.

[Lax Power]

FFS.

[Ed.]

Current hybrid/battery cars which make a noise in other countries are silent here because all vehicles have to be quiet after 11.30pm. Don't see how this rule will effect UK.

[rumple]

Noise regulations have been around for years.

[exceed]

So I can keep her?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u8zihiRBz0

I'm not too bothered if it's for new cars. I'm sure companies with halo models will still be allowed some leeway.

To be fair for the vast majority of cars it's nicer to have them make less noise.

Obviously I do not agree with that proposal for "high performance" vehicles (I don't consider a saxo with a 5" exhaust performance).

[stephen300o]

That would be nice, cars are far too noisy.

[twistedbull]

Another cookie law.
Don't they have better issues to deal with?
Like banning noisy Japanese motorbikes and increasing the noise threshold for Ducatis?

[CDP]

Somehow I expected The Sound of Europe to be more like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_E7hRdYb5o

[tim milne]

Banning police sirens when people are trying to speak on the phone in the street would be a good idea. Ambulances and fire engines can be exempted...they seem to do with more grace.

[SuperchargedVR6]

"public health" Maybe the EP would like to start this campaign on buses and trains then, which have noisy exhausts that belch out putrid black smoke. And that's before we mention what germ fests they are inside.

Cars are so clean now, they barely stain the tailpipe with carbon anymore (unless you have a thundering great V8 turbo) and yet the EP are continuing to squeeze any kind of fun out of motoring. I think they actually want Hitler's "People's car". One choice of car, one choice of pathetic little engine they can strangle the f'ck out of and we should be greatful for it. What a bunch of utter dictating chunts.

[carinaman]

It's quality, not quantity.

You see those buildings next to roads with windows? People live in them.

Do they really need to know whenever a certain car passes as someone has removed a silencer and/or decat?

Reduce the Council Tax for properties subjected to the greatest amounts of traffic noise and load the Council Tax of those addresses where inconsideratey noisy cars are kept? Seems fair.

[Lazygraduate]

To be fair, I can see where they're coming from, which is the perspective of people who aren't petrolheads. The challenge is that there are a lot more "non-petrolheads" than "petrolheads", so we really need to articulate our arguments in a more eloquent way than.. EU = tosspots!


Although I admit it's hugely satisfying and should be encouraged at all points to slag off this frankly stupid law. EU wkers!

[Mr Gear]

I'm no fan of needlessly noisy exhausts, but the majority of intrusive noise from cars comes from tyre roar.

Do something about that instead Eurocrats.

[stew-S160]

Hey, EU politicos, suck my straight through unsilenced Magnex.