Switzerland wants to introduce tougher penalties for loud drivers
In 2019, noise cost Switzerland an estimated CHF 2.8 billion, most of which (67%) was attributed to health. Around 80% of this was due to road noise. The government wants to defuse the problem and the Federal Council this week commissioned a commission to deal with it, RTS reported.
According to the Federal Council, the number of complaints about excessive road noise has increased in recent years. According to the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), over 1 million people (12% of the population) are exposed to excessive road noise.
The Federal Council’s plan aims to simplify and tighten the penalties for people who convert vehicles or drive in a way that causes noise. Current laws stipulate that those who make unnecessary noise will be fined. However, the government wants the list of harassing behaviors to be expanded and applied 24 hours a day, not just at night.
Proposed penalties for unnecessarily revving engines could be as high as losing a driver’s license for a month if the offender is caught doing it.
Another possibility is a blanket ban on replacing or converting exhaust systems. Vehicles with such modifications would be banned from entering Switzerland. And anyone caught with a modified exhaust could be required to undergo regular checks.
In addition, the federal government could consider providing funding to the cantons to increase the number of noise-related controls and police, which could include the installation of acoustic radars.
It might also make sense to target noisy motorcycles, which are often much louder than cars.
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