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It has been estimated that the annual social cost of urban road noise in England ranges from £7 billion to £10 billion, similar to the cost of road ...
The annual social cost of urban road noise in England is estimated to range from £7 billion to £10 billion.
The cost of road accidents is estimated at £9 billion.
Exposure to noise from road vehicles can impact health and social well-being.
Electric vehicles have motors which are quieter than combustion engines.
At 50km/hr, the contact between tyres and the road is the main source of noise.
Electric vehicles alone won't solve our road traffic noise problem.
The IOA briefing outlines the issue of road traffic noise.
The attached document is a Briefing Note titled "The Health and Social Costs of Road Noise."
External resources
It has been estimated that the annual social cost of urban road noise in England ranges from £7 billion to £10 billion, similar to the cost of road accidents (£9 billion). The health and social costs of noise from road traffic are increasingly well documented - with research repeatedly finding that exposure to noise from road vehicles can impact. While there is a growing number of electric vehicles on our roads, which run on have motors which are quieter than combustion engines, once vehicles are travelling at 50km/hr the contact between tyres and the road is the main source of noise we hear. This means that electric vehicles alone won't solve our road traffic noise problem. This IOA briefing outlines the issue of road traffic noise, and potential solutions to reducing the cost of this noise to our health and society.
Attached Documents
Briefing Note - The Health and Social Costs of Road Noise
The Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure (DfI) have consulted on their round 4 Road Noise Action Plan covering 2023 – 28.
Government response to the Environmental Audit Committee Inquiry into Airport Expansion and Climate and nature targets noise recommendations
Considerations of noise and soundscape are embedded in the Natural Resources Wales State of Natural Resources Report 2025.
Outcome of Welsh Government consultation on changes to permitted development rights including air source heat pumps.
A report commissioned by the Department for Business and Industrial Strategy to look at assessment of noise from onshore wind farms is now published.
The Welsh Government are consulting on changes to permitted development rights including air source heat pumps(ASHP).
The Government are seeking views on proposals for changes to the planning process for national infrastructure projects.
As part of their ongoing enquiry into the impact of airport expansion on climate and nature targets, the Environmental Audit Committee will be taking oral evidence tomorrow - Wednesday May 14th.
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