The federal government has allocated CHF 3 billion to fight noisy vehicles, according to the newspaper 20 Minutes.
Despite significant investment in sound barriers and quieter road surfaces, many residents continue to lodge noise complaints, a third of them related to noisy cars and motorcycles.
To combat the problem the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and Touring Club Suisse (TCS) are working together to install new sound measuring equipment to warn drivers when they exceed sound limits.
The first test will be run in the canton of Solothurn at the end of this month on a stretch of road popular with motorcyclists.
The devices measure sound, and like a speed radar, show the decibel level on a sign further down the road to warn drivers when they exceed noise limits.
The German-made devices have been used since 2015 in Germany and have led to a 50% fall in the number of noisy vehicles in the Bade-Wurtemberg region.
Data published last year show that 1.1 million people in Switzerland are bothered by noise during the day and 1 million at night. The most frequent source of noise pollution is the road traffic, followed by rail and air traffic.
The noise limits for vehicles in Switzerland range from 74 to 80 dB depending on the vehicle.
Modified Harley Davidson bikes, some of the loudest, can produce noise close to 100 dB when idling, a level that can easily rise to 120 dB when the bike is ridden – in this video the sound reaches 115 dB at half of the maximum engine speed. The logarithmic scale means 120 dB sounds 64 times louder than 60 dB.
More on this:
20 Minutes article (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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Tony J says
A welcome move Le News! Increasing number of modified and high-performance cars emitting ‘Pop and Bang’ noises, as they accelerate excessively through Swiss towns and villages. Often driving above the speed limit, while making these noisy disturbances.
Balham says
I love Switzerland, its beauty and charm and fresh air. Yet I am amazed and depressed by the extraordinary popularity in this country of ludicrously loud motorcycles. Much worse than any other country I know. It is a national disgrace.
Bikers says
11 million people are bothered in Switzerland with loud car and motorcycle noise?
How many people live in Switzerland,?
Like 8 million, wtf??
Le News says
1.1 million.