The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy Mayor of London 79
making future bus operations quieter, although the overall effect is not
likely to be significant. Reduced congestion should mean less of the types
of noise which can cause annoyance, such as idling engines, and frustrated
stop-start driving. The potential for encouraging some road users to travel
earlier or later to avoid the charge is not expected to be significant.
policy 12
The Mayor will encourage exploration of public realm improvements in
Central London, developed in full consultation with affected parties,
having regard to potential noise benefits and other issues.
proposal 9 Transport for London will continue to carry out extensive monitoring of
the impacts of Central London Congestion Charging, including traffic
impacts outside the charging zone.
Road freight
4A.45 Lorries have become quieter, and can become quieter still with wider
application of newer technologies. The standard ‘drive-by’ noise level
limit for a heavy goods vehicle has been reduced, progressively from 91 to
80 dB(A) over the last 25 years. However, the current ISO 362 drive-by
test for certifying exterior noise for the purposes of European Directive
1992/97/EC is particularly inappropriate for commercial vehicles.
Alternatives include lower speed, part-laden acceleration, ‘cruise-by’ and
stationary tests. A stationary noise test could be combined with
controlling noise from other components such as vehicle bodies. 19
This
could assist users and authorities to specify ‘Environmentally Enhanced
Vehicles’ (see glossary). Older lorries can still be among the noisiest
vehicles on the road. They can generate high noise levels when driven
harshly or under full load. Low frequency noise from large engines can be
an issue. The proportion of heavy vehicles in the traffic flow has
implications for sorts of measures which can best reduce noise on a
particular street. Minimising stop-start conditions is especially important
for reducing noise from many heavy vehicles. On the other hand, many
heavy goods vehicle fleets are renewed more frequently than light vans,
which have been growing in number in London.
4A.46 A London Sustainable Distribution Partnership (LSDP), proposed in the
Mayor’s Transport Strategy, was launched in February 2002. It brings
together the London Boroughs, business and the freight industry to
develop an effective strategy for the distribution of goods and servicing in
London. The Mayor’s Transport Strategy identified three main work areas -
road based distribution and delivery issues; rail freight development; and
use of London’s waterways. The Transport Strategy also proposed that
Transport for London will encourage early development of Freight Quality
Partnerships (FQPs), particularly at the sub-regional level, to complement