MEPs resist vehicle noise limits

Three different opinions on how to cut noise.

Three-way talks on new vehicle noise limits seem to be heading down a cul-de-sac after member states and the European Parliament tried to water down the European Commission’s proposal.

Talks will continue on 5 November after an initial meeting earlier this month made little progress. The Commission proposed lowering limits from the current 74 decibels to 70 after two years, followed by a drop to 68 decibels after five years. The Council set the same limits but with an extended timeframe – no earlier than 2024. The Parliament’s scenario would reduce the limits and extend the timeframe. Analysis conducted last month by TNO, a research organisation, found that the Commission’s proposal would reduce overall noise levels by 3.4dB, the Council’s would reduce levels by 2.6dB, and the Parliament’s by 1.9dB.

Miroslav Ouzký, a centre-right Czech MEP guiding the legislation through the Parliament, found himself at the centre of a scandal last year when it was discovered that in the compromise amendment document he submitted to weaken the limits, a representative of German car manufacturer Porsche was listed as the author. Germany has been lobbying for less stringent noise limits, particularly for sports cars.