Debated in Parliament on 4 Apr 2022.
Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment in view of the impending adoption of the new vehicle noise standards from next year onwards, whether there are plans to deploy noise measuring instruments together with speed cameras in areas where cars often speed.
Excessive vehicle noise is caused by a variety of factors, including vehicle design, illegal modifications, poor maintenance and inconsiderate driver behaviour. NEA sets noise emission standards that new vehicles must adhere to upon registration, as well as in-use noise emission standards which ensure that vehicles used on the roads are regularly serviced, well-maintained and do not emit excessive noise.
Compliance with noise emission standards will continue to be assessed during mandatory periodic inspections at authorised inspection centres. NEA, Traffic Police and LTA will also continue to conduct joint enforcement operations for vehicular-related offences on our roads, including violations of the noise emission standards.
Currently, there are no plans to deploy noise measuring instruments along the roads to enforce against vehicles that violate the noise emission standards. Unlike speeding offences, which can be visually captured using speed cameras, it is challenging to attribute the source of noise to a specific vehicle on the road, due to interference from surrounding traffic and other sources. Nonetheless, NEA will continue to monitor new technologies that could strengthen enforcement against vehicles that violate the noise emission standards.
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