ABSTRACT
In the last decade, activities aiming at reduction of negative impact of transport on natural environment in Poland have been intensified, especially after accession to the European Union. Solving the problem of transport noise, which is called pollution of the 21st century is important. Traffic noise has a significant impact on quality of natural environment. The authors of this article presented traffic noise and growing number of passenger cars and trucks as a problem in European dimension. The following factors were distinguished in traffic flow: ambient noise caused by mutual influence of tyres and road surface, noise emitted by drive units (engine, exhaust system) and others. Therefore, various protective solutions must be applied in the areas of emission, sound propagation. The most popular method of anti-noise protection is noise barriers. The authors presented solutions eliminating traffic noise, using photovoltaics integrated with acoustic barriers, and present intermodal transport as an alternative traditional road transport.
