Traffic noise is the second-biggest environmental factor affecting Europeans’ health after air pollution.
Almost half of EU citizens are regularly exposed to road traffic noise over the level that the World Health Organisation considers to pose a serious risk to health. Noise pollution has been linked to 50,000 fatal heart attacks every year in Europe. This briefing outlines the European Commission, Parliament and Council positions on a proposal for new vehicle noise standards ahead of a third round of trilogue negotiations on 5 November, 2013. It also outlines T&E’s analysis of the main issues as well as its recommendations for a compromise that avoids legal and technical loopholes.
10 years after Dieselgate, another scandal comes
Manufacturers want to kill off EU rules that would better reflect pollution from plug-in hybrid vehicles
But the car lobby is demanding that the EU scrap rules that would better reflect PHEV pollution.
New EU data shows the importance of the planned correction of the 'utility factor' for plug-in hybrids.