Noise pollution should be taken as seriously as other forms of pollution because it is just as damaging to human health. Noise pollution is ranking increasingly higher on the list of citizens’ concerns, as can noticed by the recent spate of The Malta Independent readers highlighting Malta’s noise pollution deficit originating from diverse sources.

Regrettably while the EU Directive relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise was fully transposed by Malta in 2004, no strategic “noise map” has yet been submitted to the EU Commission with apparent indifference by the Maltese authorities.

I am confident that many readers would agree that noise pollution emanating from road transport is one of the major sources of urban noise, particularly in Malta.

While in the Europe Union road traffic noise is considered as being potentially dangerous to health, surprisingly, the Maltese authorities seem to believe otherwise as the local Motor Vehicle Roadworthiness Test Regulations (S.L.65.15) puts the exhaust sound level testing limit well above the EU limit at 119 dB(A) for Class I Vehicle when engine revolutions are at three fourths of maximum rated speed, for Vehicle Classes II at 100 dBA for all petrol engines and for Vehicle Class III, between 101 -105 dBA for diesel engines.

Consequently, Malta seems to be defying the Europe Union’s sensibility and efforts to reduce traffic noise, as the Police and ADT authorities are conspicuous by their inertia and/or inefficiency to the prevailing common practice that many local motorists modify their vehicles’ (cars and motorcycles) engine exhaust systems to accentuate their vehicles’ drone/exhaust noise, even in breach of the Motor Vehicles Roadworthiness Test Regulations (S.L.65.15), and the Motor Vehicle Regulations (S.L 65.11).

This widespread disregard of the above mentioned regulations by motorists is there for all to see and hear, except for the police and the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) and their respective ministries, that is, the Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications and the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, which seem mute and complacent despite public outrage.

As usual, in environmental matters that adversely affect public health, the health authorities are conspicuous by their silence and inertia, in their misguided belief that these matters do not fall within their remit.

This however, is just the tip of iceberg as other sources of noise pollution are often similarly condoned by the authorities to the detriment of citizens’ health and quality of life.

Joe Morana

SLIEMA