Too Loud Man !

[Chuffer]

Time to take care with our loud and lairy exhausts . The UK Government are trialing a prototype `Sound Camera ` in various locations over the next 7 months that will dish out automatic fines to vehicles making too much noise . I hope they pick on the chavs in their hot hatches first that have exhaust systems sounding more like a fart in drain pipe !!

 

[Roscobbc]

'Sound Cameras' are a contradiction in terms............measuring excess or otherwise sound is essentially a very precise process measured in decibel at a specific distance and angle from the noise source. I suspect that the supposed 'Sound Cameras' are simply an ordinary traffic camera with microphone. Such is the nature of noise it'll be the high frequency noise of high revving bikes with aftermarket 'cans' and hot hatches with turbo's, blow-off valves and popping exhausts that are recorded over the background sound of normal traffic. Low frequency, relatively low revving V8 engines I would have thought are unlikely to 'trigger' an alert (unless perhaps do a full drag type 1/4 mile pass on open headers. The so called 'Sound Cameras' could record registration numbers of vehicles 'of interest' and specialist traffic police with properly calibrated decibel meters can go round to the registered owners address and demand to do a correctly measured sound test........police will have the car or bike owner bang to rights as the camera will prove the vehicle was in a specific location - if the camera has a live 'feed' police could potentially impound the vehice on the spot until a measured test is carried out I guess.

 

[teamzr1]

Loud sounds are mostly ignored by most until like me loosing 50% of my hearing by racing for decades with a helmet but no ear plugs.
Due to running with no side windows and side exhaust with very little of mufflers

See guys with Corvettes taking brand new C8s and hacking them with 3rd party exhaust systems because they want to be cool with
the loudest systems they can find

Few years back after the NCM opened that track that all those living around it complained of the loud exhausts at all hours and days and NCM telling them to screw off forcing a class action lawsuit.
NCM attempted to make those homeowners look like they were Aholes
NCM lost the lawsuit but was not good enough of what they wanted to do to kinda lower the sounds levels, so another lawsuit had to be done
and this time the state made the NCM place sound level meters around the track and the state monitors that track 24/7

Here is the live website that records and reports the sound levels

Stakeholder web not supported - Envirosuite

www.envcloud.com

Now as the other post I did here few days back on the high dBA of the C8 Z06 the NCM at this time cannot run them on the track

Information directly about NCM Motorsports Park now having to abide by the court order :

We aim to reduce our effect on the surrounding sound environment by pursuing the following mutually agreed upon limits:

• With the exception of special manufacturer's vehicle testing, track participant vehicles are limited to 103 dBA measured 50 feet from the edge of the track.
• This sound limit is strictly enforced. Any vehicles exceeding this sound limit will be ordered to leave the track until appropriate corrective measures are taken to bring the vehicle into compliance.
• Track event based sound levels in the community are limited to a one-hour equivalent sound level of 55.5 dBA measured at the top of every hour at a semi-permanent location in the Clark Circle neighborhood.

We have also been allowed eight (8) “exception days” during which track based sound levels at the community monitoring location will be limited to a one-hour equivalent sounds level of 59.0 dBA.

Current planned exception days are:

• March 26/27 National Auto Sport Association
• April 15/16 Gridlife
• October 22/23 National Auto Sport Association
• November 12/13 Chin Track Days

Our sound monitoring station captures and records data digitally and stores it at a data center.
These files are provided to the City-County Planning Commission upon request.

 

[Roscobbc]

That 55 dba is a very, very low level.........
Some common sounds, and their decibel ratings, include:

• A whisper - 30 dB.
• Normal conversation - 60 dB.
• A busy street - 80 dB.
• Pneumatic drill - 125 dB.

 

[teamzr1]

Not sure but sounds like to prevent constant high level dBA that at least once an hour the noise level has to drop to 55 dBA and
that is from 50 feet from the edge of the track, so exhaust would be higher closer to the exhaust tips.
As it states at times allows 103 dBa, at 50 feet from track wall is still high to the closest homes

The NCM should not have even laid out where the track would be without doing their research to where it was located to homes and allowed noise levels.
As it was due to the track noise, the homeowners have lost value of their property as who wants to live with that noise all the time or even stay outside with company for a BBQ with that noise.

 

[phild]

'Sound Cameras' are a contradiction in terms............measuring excess or otherwise sound is essentially a very precise process measured in decibel at a specific distance and angle from the noise source. I suspect that the supposed 'Sound Cameras' are simply an ordinary traffic camera with microphone. Such is the nature of noise it'll be the high frequency noise of high revving bikes with aftermarket 'cans' and hot hatches with turbo's, blow-off valves and popping exhausts that are recorded over the background sound of normal traffic. Low frequency, relatively low revving V8 engines I would have thought are unlikely to 'trigger' an alert (unless perhaps do a full drag type 1/4 mile pass on open headers. The so called 'Sound Cameras' could record registration numbers of vehicles 'of interest' and specialist traffic police with properly calibrated decibel meters can go round to the registered owners address and demand to do a correctly measured sound test........police will have the car or bike owner bang to rights as the camera will prove the vehicle was in a specific location - if the camera has a live 'feed' police could potentially impound the vehice on the spot until a measured test is carried out I guess.

I wonder how high a priority the police will give this. They don't, presently, have the time, or inclination, to follow up vehicle theft and other, allegedly, low level criminal activity.

 

[Chuffer]

I wonder how high a priority the police will give this. They don't, presently, have the time, or inclination, to follow up vehicle theft and other, allegedly, low level criminal activity.

It will all come down to cost versus potential revenue at the end of the day and being an eternal synic I would guess many police forces won`t even bother . Northamptonshire Police decommisioned all the fixed speed cameras in the county several years ago because they could not afford to operate the system . Funny how alledged road safety concerns due to speeding fly out the window when the `bean counters` get involved . They now have just two roving mobile camera vans to cover the entire county.

 

[Corvetteville]

The police in each area are responsible for enforcing the law, but the money from speeding fines goes to the treasury. Little wonder that they're not that bothered. Villages & towns should be allowed to employ local traffic officers who could fine these antisocial idiots, & make a fortune in the process.

 

[Roscobbc]

I wonder how high a priority the police will give this. They don't, presently, have the time, or inclination, to follow up vehicle theft and other, allegedly, low level criminal activity.

No doubt any police action will be in response to local resident complaints.........lots of 'moneyed' people living in the Royal Boro' of Kensington & Chelsea who will be well 'connected' with some of the people who 'pull' the police 'strings' in Goverment and the House of Lords and who 'fund' our political parties.........

 

[teamzr1]

Here in the states they need no police and this is a money stream for cities as the sound level systems are automatic and the system
auto traps sound level and then also takes a photo of the vehicle's license plate and a ticket is mailed to the owner of that vehicle

Also, can be extra income when stopping vehicles for other traffic issues and simply adding more fine above set city sound levels being exceeded

 

[Corvetteville]

That sounds great, common sense really. Law & Order is looking a bit thin at the moment in this country.

 

[Forrest Gump]

One noisy car or moped thrashing around a town or village can potentially disturb hundreds or even thousands of people. When they‘re doing it all day and night it is a problem. There’s a noisy moped around my way, probably only a 50cc. Seems to be up and about by 6am, buzzing around all day then until after 11pm, driving me nuts.

Another moan…..light aircraft buzzing around, especially at the weekend. They’re taking off from a local airfield with no real journey in mind I doubt - just circle over their own house a few times and some other people they know - great for them but annoying thousands of other people in the process. Just as annoying as a loud car or bike and you probably hear them approaching and going for a lot longer time.

Victor Meldrew.

 

[Roscobbc]

I'm guessing that birdsong/dawn chorus is also a problem for you Andy.............suggest you go to a few heavy metal or thrash concerts and make a point of standing as close to the speakers as possible..........a few sessions of that and that aural 'sensitivity' will be fixed permanently............

 

[Forrest Gump]

I'm guessing that birdsong/dawn chorus is also a problem for you Andy.............suggest you go to a few heavy metal or thrash concerts and make a point of standing as close to the speakers as possible..........a few sessions of that and that aural 'sensitivity' will be fixed permanently............

A very loud Robin followed by a Blackbird do wake me up sometimes.
The good news is the noisy moped rider is moving away from here soon, to the Hornchurch area apparently, so won’t be a problem for me any more. Thanks for your concern and advice though Ross

 

[Chuffer]

A very loud Robin followed by a Blackbird do wake me up sometimes.
The good news is the noisy moped rider is moving away from here soon, to the Hornchurch area apparently, so won’t be a problem for me any more. Thanks for your concern and advice though Ross

By a shot gun to cure the Robin / Blackbird / Moped Rider problem and an anti aircraft gun for the planes . We regularly get buzzed by light aircraft and micro lites over our sleepy little village just going round and round in circles. Drives me mad ! The distant sound of race engines at Silverstone Circuit which is only 7 miles away as the crow flies is perfectly acceptable though . Only problem is I shot the crow last week for making too much noise !!

 

[Roscobbc]

A very loud Robin followed by a Blackbird do wake me up sometimes.
The good news is the noisy moped rider is moving away from here soon, to the Hornchurch area apparently, so won’t be a problem for me any more. Thanks for your concern and advice though Ross

I think that seeing/hearing the light aircraft, flex--wing and newer fixed wing microlites and the rarer warbird flying overhead is a real treat - many of the fixed wing microlites now use the Rotax flat 4 and are far, far quieter than the typical Cessna's the flying schools operate. Its the occasional autogyro that seems to make the most noise........nasty engine sound and not much forward motion. Bird noise not an issue here except for occasional Magpie or Rook internal squabble - by far the biggest issue is the pirate 'gangs' of screaming multicoloured Parakeets which over the last few years gradually seem to have made their way out radially from the large London parks.......(and soon to come to other locations!)

 

[Simonl]

Time to take care with our loud and lairy exhausts . The UK Government are trialing a prototype `Sound Camera ` in various locations over the next 7 months that will dish out automatic fines to vehicles making too much noise . I hope they pick on the chavs in their hot hatches first that have exhaust systems sounding more like a fart in drain pipe !!

At least the government have their priorities sorted

 

[teamzr1]

This what happens when nameplates produce vehicles that have adjustable exhaust noise just so people can look cool belting out 95 plus Dba
GM tried to get around this by calling the loudest noise as "track only" mode

The California owner of a 2022 Hyundai Elantra N is stuck between a rock and a hard place, with a police officer suspending the car's registration over its noise output.
The kicker?
The vehicle is entirely stock as delivered from the factory.

As reported, the story began when Reddit user OkCandidate103 was pulled over by police. He had been driving his Elantra N in N mode, which increases the volume of the exhaust and includes some pops and crackles on the overrun.
The officer immediately questioned the driver as to why their car was "backfiring," questioned whether it was in "track mode," and stated that the vehicle was not able to be driven on the road in such condition. As captured in a dash cam video, the officer goes on to claim the owner will have to pay thousands of dollars to have the "track mode" removed before the car can be re-registered.

To attempt to get the car registered again, the owner took the car to the California State Referee for inspection. The car successfully passed smog as expected. The inspector then asked the owner which drive mode was the loudest, and when the owner said "Sport," the noise test was run in Sport mode. California requires cars to remain at or below a 95 dB limit.
The Elantra N failed the test, averaging 98 dB in Sport mode, and hitting peaks of 102 dB due to the pops from the exhaust.

The problem appears to be that the test was not done according to spec. As per the relevant standard, SAE J1492, the noise test is supposed to be done in "any mode that can remain enabled through a power on/off cycle," of which Sport mode does not qualify.
The Elantra N resets to the Normal drive mode through a power on/off cycle.

The results of the test leave the owner in a difficult situation. They are allowed to test the vehicle again, but are required to show proof that the vehicle has been "fixed" to comply with noise regulations. There is nothing to fix, though, as the vehicle is entirely stock.
The owner approached the dealership for help, and was given a letter stating the vehicle was in the same condition as delivered from the factory. Beyond that, they were only able to advise the owner to consider temporarily fitting a muffler silencer to help pass inspection.

The owner is waiting to hear back from Hyundai corporate on the problem, and fears that the matter may have to be taken to court. After the dealership indicated they were unable to help, he applied to Hyundai for a buyback as he was making payments on a vehicle that could not be registered. Initially, he was told by the company that a buyback was not possible.
A day later, he was contacted by a new case manager who indicated this was a mistake, and that the matter was being processed again to determine if a buyback could be approved.

The Drive has reached out to Hyundai for comment on the matter.
A representative for the automaker indicated that it is aware of the problem and is working with the owner to rectify the situation.

The reality is that a stock Elantra N should pass California's noise tests if they are indeed executed properly. The owner should thus have had little issue getting the car through inspection and registered once more. There's also something to be said for educating owners that certain drive modes may fall afoul of noise statutes in certain jurisdictions.

As it stands, though, the owner has a car they can't drive and seemingly little recourse in this matter.
That's not the experience anyone expects to have when driving a brand-new car. It seems that a combination of overzealous policing and poor bureaucracy has left the owner in a frustrating predicament.

Really ?
Owner simply does not turn on the N (track mode) while driving in areas late at night that affects people living there and the nameplates doing this should not allow selling new models without meeting federal noise laws testing which clearly this and like C8 Z06 would fail

 

[Roscobbc]

We;ve got someone close to us with a late model Mustang GT 10 speed auto. Don't know whether its an aftermarket exhaust or stock switchable system.........but its very loud but not 'nice' loud.......too high a pitched sound. A bit like a Jag 'F' type that was giving it the beans on the street earlier today on 'noisy' mode with its popping, farty overrun sound.

 

[Mad4slalom]

We;ve got someone close to us with a late model Mustang GT 10 speed auto. Don't know whether its an aftermarket exhaust or stock switchable system.........but its very loud but not 'nice' loud.......too high a pitched sound. A bit like a Jag 'F' type that was giving it the beans on the street earlier today on 'noisy' mode with its popping, farty overrun sound.

I dont see the need for those machine gun type backfiring exhaust mods. We all thought we were cool back in the day removing the baffles from our mopeds etc , now I realise we were just bloody annoying.
The worst for me and would invoke road rage if i could catch them up is when you are cruising along and hear a droning sound from the rear , fearing a wheal bearing or similar, you wind down your window and stick your ear out to try and diagnose the noise just as an obviously illegally modified motorcycle flys past 3 feet away and nearly blows your eardrum out !