Plug gaps in vehicular noise-emission standards

I refer to the letters by Voices contributor Inderjeet Singh Rikhraj, “New campaign and stiffer penalties needed for car engines left idling” (Sept 4), and the National Environment Agency, “No let-up in enforcing rules on idling car engines: NEA” (Sept 10).

Idling engines are rightly sanctioned under the Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) Regulations owing to their contribution to pollution. It is illegal for drivers to leave the engine of a stationary vehicle running for reasons other than traffic conditions.

While the letters focused primarily on air pollution, noise pollution is also a scourge that must not be ignored.

The Fourth Schedule of the regulations sets out the standards for vehicular noise emissions. Unfortunately, the limits reference Japanese and European Union standards last updated in the 1990s.

They are woefully inadequate given that there is increasing evidence linking noise pollution to conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

In recognition of this, the EU in 2014 introduced new legislation to restrict vehicular noise emissions. It will progressively tighten standards to achieve a passenger-car noise limit of 68 A-weighted decibels (dBA) by 2026.

By contrast, Singapore’s current standards specify a limit of 96dBA.

As a 3dBA increase in sound intensity translates to a doubling of sound energy, a 96dBA source produces many times more energy than a 68dBA source.

Louder noises produce correspondingly greater damage to well-being.

I urge the National Environment Agency and Land Transport Authority to look into these new standards urgently and consider rolling them out quickly.

The triple whammy of outdated noise-emission standards, inadequate enforcement of modified engines and exhausts, and continued sale of high-powered cars and motorcycles in a dense urban environment is detrimental to our collective health.

Perhaps it is time to consider a strong push for electric vehicles, which are not only more energy-efficient and nearly silent but also reduce air pollution, since the energy used to power them can be generated at industrial power plants.

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