Noise pollution, particular near heavily-trafficked city roads, has become an issue of increasing concern to the Swiss in recent years, prompting the formation of several groups, such as the Lärmliga or Noise League. 

The group delivered a petition with over 20,000 signatures to the Federal Council in Bern on Monday.

So, what’s an ‘anti-noise radar’?

An anti-noise radar is a device that captures a photograph of the number plates of passing vehicles if they exceed a certain noise level, measured in decibels. With this information, the driver of the vehicle can be identified and potentially fined. How much the fines would be would be have to be decided if the plan gets the green light.

Have they been trialed in Switzerland before?

Yes, the devices were trialed last year in Geneva by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). During the trial period, the devices recorded up to 200 vehicles per day, with some vehicles emitting noise levels up to 117 decibels—far exceeding the set limit of 82 decibels that would lead to a fine being handed out.

Over 70 percent of those vehicles were motorcycles, with the remainder almost evenly distributed between cars and trucks.

What loud is the 82 decibel limit?

According to Swiss news site 20minutes, 82 decibels is the around the same level as the noise from “a noisy restaurant or in factory”. To give context 40 decibels is the volume measured in a library. “From 50 decibels, the noise can be disturbing,” it writes. “A so-called normal conversation is around 50 decibels. The volume can rise to 80 dB in a noisy restaurant or factory, where talking becomes difficult.”

The noise of a lawnmower or drill or even the music in a nightclub can reach between 90 and 110 decibels and pain is felt from 120 decibels.

When could we see anti-noise cameras on Swiss roads?

Those with rattling transmissions or turbo-charged engines have some respite—there are still a few hurdles before the devices are adopted across the country.

The Federal Council must first establish the legal basis to fine motorists who exceed noise levels.

The government will then need to agree on the specifications for the devices before implementation. This process could take several months.

A public education campaign will also need to take place, setting out the new limits, and how motorists can avoid a fine. 

All eyes will be on Zurich in the meantime, as the city has also recently announced a trial of the devices—although a start date for that test has yet to be announced.