Jacobs and Atkins Lead UK Department for Transport Vehicle Noise Camera Trials in Four Locations

A new-age road camera designed to help authorities more easily identify and track drivers who break the law by revving engines and using modified exhausts is installed in Bradford, U.K. today (18 October 2022). Cameras will also be placed over the next two months in locations in Bristol, Great Yarmouth and Birmingham, as part of a trial to clampdown on antisocial driving and vehicle noise pollution.

The Transport Secretary confirmed these four locations will host the new “noise camera” following a government-backed competition to tackle noise pollution on some of Britain’s loudest streets. The locations were decided based on the impact to local residents of illegal noisy vehicles, after Members of Parliament (MPs) across the country applied for the camera to be set up in their local area. If successful, the cameras could be rolled out nationwide.

Atkins Jacobs Joint Venture (JV) is acting as a technical consultant for the trials, providing acoustics expertise, design, modeling and asset management. The noise camera is designed and developed by MicrodB.

“This scheme is great news for all those who have to live with this problem in their communities,” explains Atkins Jacobs JV Acoustics Lead Richard Stait. “We look forward to seeing the outcomes of the trials proving to be a success and enabling authorities to be in a position to begin enforcement of the problem.”

“The real-world trials of the technology solution that the Atkins Jacobs JV has worked on with Department for Transport are an important step for the scheme towards solving a problem that affects many communities across the U.K.,” adds Atkins Jacobs JV Practice Director Andrew Pearce.

“We are fully expecting the trial in these four chosen locations to confirm what we have seen in testing, which is a highly targeted use of technology to ensure only those motorists making excessive noise will be subject to enforcement.”

How does the camera work?

The new technology uses a video camera in conjunction with several microphones to accurately pinpoint excessively noisy vehicles as they pass by. This means that if drivers break the law by revving their engines unnecessarily or using illegal exhausts, they will be automatically detected. The camera takes a picture of the vehicle and records the noise level to create a digital package of evidence which can be used by local police and highways authorities to automate noise enforcement.

Protecting communities

Road noise is known to contribute to health problems, such as heart attacks, strokes and dementia, and the annual social cost of urban road noise, including lost productivity from sleep disturbance and health costs is estimated to be up to $11 billion (£10 billion).

The U.K. Government has invested over a quarter of a million pounds (approximately $340,000) in the project.

“Rowdy road drivers beware – these new cameras will help the police clampdown on those who break the legal noise limits or use illegal modified exhausts to make excessive noise in our communities,” says Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan.

“We’ll be working closely with the local authorities and police to share any findings, and I hope that this technology paves the way for quieter, peaceful streets across the country.”

Noise Abatement Society Chief Executive Gloria Elliott OBE adds: “Excessively noisy vehicles and anti-social driving causes disturbance, stress, anxiety and pain to many. It is unsafe and disrupts the environment and people’s peaceful enjoyment of their homes and public places.

“Communities across the U.K. are increasingly suffering from this entirely avoidable blight. The Noise Abatement Society applauds rigorous, effective, evidence-based solutions to address this issue and protect the public.”

The trials will continue for two months across the country. The department continues to work closely with all local authorities and MPs to tackle rowdy, illegal noise disruption from traffic.

For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/noise-camera-trials-to-detect-rowdy-drivers-coming-to-bradford-bristol-great-yarmouth-and-birmingham