Independent MEP Marian Harkin has told Metro Éireann that she voted at the European Parliament to bring in regulations aimed at limiting noise levels from motor vehicles in the EU.
Independent MEP Marian Harkin has told Metro Éireann that she voted at the European Parliament to bring in regulations aimed at limiting noise levels from motor vehicles in the EU.
She said the plans also support increasing the noise generated by electric vehicles to ensure the safety of blind people across Europe.
“Some statistics indicate that noise pollution is the most harmful environmental problem after air pollution in the EU,” said Harkin following the passing of the vote. “Therefore, the new rules… send a strong signal that we want to improve this aspect of citizens’ lives.”
Harkin cited a recent report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) which shows that “noise can cause hearing damage, cardiovascular disease, learning impairment in children and sleep disturbance”.
The Ireland North & West MEP said enforcing the new regulations would not be as expensive as it’s been speculated.
“Making these limits a reality should not cost more than €500 per truck, while existing measures brought in to make cars more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly have the happy consequence of also making them quieter,” she said.
On her backing of the decision to increase electric vehicle noise for safety reasons, Harkin described it as “a human safety issue which is timely and appropriate.
“US estimates show that a hybrid electric vehicle is more than twice as likely to be involved in an incident with a pedestrian as a car powered by a conventional fuel,” she added.
“By voting for compulsory installation of Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (Avas) in quiet vehicles, EU citizens in general, and the visually impaired in particular, will be significantly safer, particularly in urban areas.”
