Police boss wants action on noisy vehicle exhausts

A police and crime commissioner has called on the government to do more to tackle excessively noisy vehicle exhausts.

Donna Jones, who represents Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said with no legally enforceable roadside decibel limit it was difficult for police forces nationwide to combat the problem.

"Countless people have told me how the constant racket is affecting their ability to enjoy their homes and get a decent night's sleep," she said.

The Department for Transport (DfT) agreed noisy exhausts were a "nuisance" and said officers have a range of powers to combat antisocial driving.

The legal limit for a vehicle's exhaust is 72dB for cars made since 2016, but some are modified to make them louder, which is illegal.

New motorcycles are limited to between 73 and 77dB.

Jones said: "The noise caused by these modified motorbikes and cars is unacceptable and unbearable for many.

"A lack of clarity from government is making enforcement difficult and inconsistent.

"It's why ministers need to give police forces an objective and enforceable decibel limit alongside standardised noise-measurement equipment.

"While noise cameras already exist, they need to be made a legal means of enforcement - issuing penalties to motorists caught with excessively loud, illegal exhausts.

"This in turn will free up officers to get back on the frontline and enable people to live their lives undisturbed."

The DfT trialled noise camera technology, in which a video camera with microphones accurately pinpointed "excessively noisy vehicles" as they passed by, in 2022.

Jones said: "The technology exists. What is now needed is the policy framework and legislative backing to enable it to be used effectively.

"Having a set roadside decibel limit and clear national guidance will not only help police and local authorities collect better evidence, but it will also act as a strong deterrent against illegal modification and anti-social motorists.

"Drivers and riders need to understand the rules and consequences. That comes from education and proper enforcement."

The DfT said: "Noisy exhausts are a nuisance. The Crime and Policing Act removed the need for police officers to issue a warning before seizing a vehicle being used antisocially.

"We are keeping the evidence on new technologies like noise cameras under review, but it's right that local authorities, who know their communities best, decide how to use them."

The commissioner's office is launching a survey to "better understand people's experiences of vehicle exhaust noise and how it affects their day-to-day life".

Jones said she wanted to "demonstrate the scale of the problem and the impact it's having".