The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

68 Mayor of London
The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy
Car alarms can be an acute source of annoyance, particularly when falsely
activated at night. Improved design and installation should aim to reduce
the number of false alarms. Legislating or providing incentives for the use
of ‘silent alarms’, which alert only the owner or a designated person,
would be a better long term solution.
policy 8
The Mayor will urge the Government to promote and support
technological research, and to consider further campaigning, driver
training and testing measures, to encourage quieter, smoother and more
considerate driving, in association with road safety, air quality and energy
saving objectives.
proposal 4 Transport for London will, and London boroughs should, where
practicable and cost-effective:
■ progressively seek to reduce noise through measures to smooth traffic
flow, having regard to public transport and other needs, and in
conjunction with work related to road safety; and
■ with the Mayor, similarly consider measures to promote quieter,
smoother and more considerate driving, in association with road safety,
air quality, and energy saving objectives.
Better streetworks and street maintenance
4A.20 Needless noise is caused by local carriageway defects and ‘patching’
necessary to maintain a safe condition pending resurfacing. Better
maintenance could reduce this. Digging up of streets also annoys people.
Construction noise is excluded from the definition of ‘ambient noise’ in
the Greater London Authority Act 1999, and would not be reflected in
noise mapping under Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC. Better
practice needs, however, to be vigorously pursued.
4A.21 Uneven and pot-holed surfaces are not just due to wear and tear. The
presence of poorly maintained utility equipment, such as access covers,
and poor quality trench reinstatements are also contributory factors. Large
numbers of utility companies are now licensed to dig up London’s streets
for communications cables, as well as for gas, electricity, water and
sewerage. This can increase noise in a number of ways - directly from
construction work and plant; during work through traffic disruption which
can increase the amount of stop/start driving; after the work, as a result of
poor street surface reinstatement or rocking access covers; and over time
as multiple breaking open and patching leaves a street with a poor running
surface and performance. Deformation can also prevent surface water
draining properly, increasing noise levels during rainy weather, and causing
premature failure of the road surface, leading to a noisier ride. The New
Roads and Street Works Act 1991 requires utilities (such as gas, electricity,