ABSTRACT
Due to the growth in road transport, silence is becoming an increasingly scarce commodity in our towns and cities. UK noise levels have been measured on a regular basis only since 1986 (Box 5.1). It appears that road transport is the main source of noise pollution by a considerable margin (Box 5.2). There are few locations which are not now afflicted by noise generated by road transport. Evolving Noise Levels 1986–91 https://www.niso.org/standards/z39-96/ns/oasis-exchange/table">
Year
Average noise level LAeq
Percentage of population exposed to dBLAeq greater than:
50
60
70
1986
52
58
21
4
1987
52
55
18
3
1988
52
57
18
2
1989
52
55
15
2
1990
53
58
23
4
1991
53
60
25
4
Source: Department of the Environment, 1992; 1994 Noise Sources Outside Dwellings 1986–91 https://www.niso.org/standards/z39-96/ns/oasis-exchange/table">Noise source:
Percentage main source:
Percentage of sites recording source of some noise:
Road traffic
66
93
Aircraft
3
31
Railways
1
14
Construction
1
4
Industry
1
2
People
13
73
Animals
2
38
Birds
4
8
Mowers
2
11
Wind
5
7
Source: Department of the Environment, 1992