A noise reduction radar tested in 2022 to fight against noise pollution and urban rodeos
It is equipped with a 360 ° camera, five microphones and is connected to the city’s video surveillance center. Early next year, perched high enough on a mast, an anti-noise radar will be installed on Avenue Louis-Plana, in Toulouse. This new type of equipment will be able to measure the decibel level and determine from which vehicle the sound comes, whether it is emitted by a car, a truck or a two-wheeler.
Already used in Ile-de-France, in particular thanks to a device developed by Bruitparif, it will be tested over the next few months by several cities in France which have volunteered with the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
Recurring complaints from local residents
The town hall chose the Roseraie district for the tester, in particular because of the recurring complaints from residents concerning noise pollution, in particular urban rodeos. This artery fulfills the criteria required to receive it, such as the fact that it is a straight and long line. A configuration appreciated by some bikers at the expense of the ears of local residents.
“Noise is harmful to health. In Toulouse, this problem is due in particular to two wheels, the noise level of which is high, because of the tampered with pots. We are experimenting with it with a view to appeasement, ”explains Patricia Bez, deputy mayor in charge of combating neighborhood noise.
According to the World Health Organization, noise is indeed the second most damaging environmental factor. According to a recent study by Ademe, it even has a social cost of 147.1 billion eurosEvery year in France. On the national territory, nearly 40% of the inhabitants of agglomerations of more than 250,000 inhabitants are thus exposed to a noise level of more than 60 decibels during the day because of road traffic.
A year of experimentation without verbalization
During this experiment, which should last a year, those who owe the decibel threshold will not be fined. But if this large-scale test leads to good results, the government could endorse the device and transform it into an acoustic sanction radar.
“For us it’s a way to fight against urban rodeos. The advantage of being in the first wave of test cities is that if a specific device is taken, we can be the first to benefit, ”suggests the mayor of Toulouse, Jean-Luc Moudenc, who validated this experiment. during the city council on Friday.
In Yvelines, since 2019, this type of radar has been tested in the Chevreuse valley by Bruiparif, along the RD91, called the “route des 17 tournants”. On sunny weekend days, this popular biker route can record up to 87 noise peaks per hour in some spots. Before the implementation of a radar-sanction, an educational version was installed and made it possible to reduce these photos by half.