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Our buggies make more noise than a conventional vehicle, of course, but will we all be affected by the speed camera regulations? What penalties are foreseen if we exceed the imposed threshold? How can we avoid getting caught?
New automatic speed cameras are aimed at road users, but this time, the machine won't be tracking the usual traffic violations, such as speeding, using a cell phone while driving or other offences.
Rather than improving road safety, these new radars combat noise pollution by measuring vehicle noise emission levels. Also, they are not set up by the Ministry of the Interior like other automatic radars, but by the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
Noise is a source of nuisance and can have long-term effects on health, not least because it can lead to sleep disorders.
Penalties for noise nuisance caused by speeding or "modifying" vehicles to make more noise are an ongoing need for residents living close to roads.
To combat the nuisance, the authorities conducted an experiment in which vehicle noise emission levels were recorded using an automatic control device known as noise radar.
The experiment, which began in January 2022, lasted two years and was divided into two phases.
In the first months, the radars were set up for real-life road tests, but no verbal instructions were given. This data will be used solely for research and analysis of radar technology performance for certification purposes. The tests will also be used for educational purposes to inform the public.
Secondly, once the anti-noise radar has been certified to automatically detect an infringement, it can be fined.
Finally, only at the end of the two-year experiment will sodar be installed in other areas.
The experiment was carried out in seven volunteer communities. The radar is installed on roads located in built-up areas, and the maximum authorized speed of the vehicle does not exceed 50 km/h.
In a densely populated urban area, Paris has installed two radars. Another is located in Toulouse, on rue Louis Plana, in the Roseraie district, and the last is on boulevard Félix Faure in Nice.
On the outskirts, the other three are located in Bron (69) rue Camille Rousset, Villeneuve-le-Roi (94) rue Verdun and Rueil-Malmaison (92).
Finally, another radar has been installed in the rural area of the Haute-Vallée de Chevreuse commune on the D46 at Saint-Lambert-des-Bois (78).
Noise offences are punishable by level 4 fines under article R318-3 of the Highway Code. This is equivalent to a fixed penalty of €135, reduced to €90 if payment is made within 15 days, and increased to €375 if payment is delayed.
Noise levels not to be exceeded will shortly be determined by ministerial decree. The limit selected will be between 84 and 90 decibels, bearing in mind that the legal limit for conventional vehicles is 84 decibels.
Such noise levels are impossible to achieve with a four-cylinder car, and the target is clearly a motorcyclist or large-displacement rider using the engine in overspeed, but also includes "tampered" vehicles, notably those with modified exhausts.
Derogations will be provided for certain older or agricultural vehicles where noise levels may exceed this threshold due to construction.
If you have a noisy car or buggy, exhaust components are vital to keep the noise to a minimum.You can simply start by changing your hose, which may have a hole or be damaged. Your complete line can also be the cause of excessive noise, as it may be rusty and no longer completely watertight.
Last but not least, the muffler is crucial to reducing engine noise. If it's damaged, you're sure to be caught by this kind of radar. You need to think fast about changing these components to avoid being fined when these radars arrive! Other components may be involved, such as the manifold, but this is less common.
To identify vehicles that are too noisy, the sound radar measures decibels and displays the soundtrack produced by passing vehicles. It can handle all vehicles, whatever their trajectory in the lane under surveillance.
A violation file is created when the sound level exceeds the selected trigger threshold. It specifically contains an image in which a frame appears around a vehicle identified as making noise, and a recording captured by an ANPR camera.
Unlike current automated radar systems, infringement reports prepared by acoustic radar will not be processed at national level by the CNT in Rennes. Instead, they will be forwarded to the centers authorized to record offences in each of the towns concerned, typically the Urban Surveillance Centers, which are responsible in particular for video surveillance.
Example of the view from an anti-noise radar :