Noise camera technology: roadside trial
Independent reports showing results and analysis of government trial of roadside noise cameras.
Applies to England and Wales
Documents
Details
The Department for Transport (DfT) has been trialling noise camera technology to understand if it can be used to automatically detect when vehicles are excessively noisy.
Roadside trials took place from 18 October 2022 until 1 February 2023 and were located in Keighley, Bristol, Great Yarmouth and Rubery, Birmingham.
The new technology uses a video camera in conjunction with microphones to accurately pinpoint excessively noisy vehicles as they pass by. The camera takes a picture of a vehicle and records the noise level to create a digital package of evidence that could be used to fine offending drivers.
The trials had funding of £300,000 and the objective was to provide local authorities and police with effective enforcement tools capable of capturing sufficient evidence to support successful prosecution of offenders.
These reports were produced by an Atkins and Jacobs joint venture on behalf of DfT and comprise:
- part A: how the noise threshold was defined
- part B: testing the technology in a track environment
- part C: the noise camera trial and results
They have been published as part of action 22 of the Plan for Drivers.