The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

64 Mayor of London
The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy
The Central Document Offences Unit of the MPS recorded the following
in respect of the issue of non-endorsable fixed penalty tickets, for the
period 1 November 1999 to 30 June 2001:
Offence
Number of tickets issued
No silencer 21
Failing to maintain silencer 32
Not stopping engine when stationary 5
Sounding horn at night 6
Sounding horn when stationary 18
Causing unnecessary noise 35
Box 23: Other vehicle noise enforcement
The Vehicle Inspectorate has a duty to investigate defective vehicles.
Activities have been focused on goods vehicles, where the risks associated
with most defects are greater than from a car. In respect of silencers
which are not of the approved type, the Vehicle Inspectorate recommends
the issue of a ‘defect notice’. This is similar to the VDRS scheme (see
above). It requires the owner to replace the defective part.
A London-wide vehicle testing programme across London boroughs
through the Association of London Government has been carried out.
Improving air quality was a primary aim, but encouraging better vehicle
maintenance can also reduce noise.
policy 6
The Mayor supports research into the potential for cost-effective inservice
vehicle noise testing, and, if results so indicate, would wish to see
trials in London, including at night.
proposal 3 Cost-effective opportunities to achieve lower in-service vehicle noise
levels will be further pursued in conjunction with work related to the
Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy, including supporting a vehicle maintenance
campaign and action on vehicle emissions testing.
Traffic reduction, street space allocation and routeing
4A.15 Where traffic can be much reduced, or removed from part of an area, as in
Trafalgar Square, noise benefits will be significant. ‘Streets for People’
policies for appropriate residential areas are relevant (see glossary). The
Mayor’s goal (Transport Strategy, paragraphs 4G.66-68) is, subject to
monitoring and review, to provide increasingly attractive alternatives to use
of the private car and to achieve a 15% reduction in weekday traffic levels
in central London, and zero traffic growth across the rest of inner London,
over the 2001-11 period - in the context of growth of population and