Local MP Alan Mak has called for the Labour Government to take urgent action to tackle excessive vehicle noise.
He has added his name to a letter to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander urging the Government to address this issue and support communities including Hayling Island that are affected by large, noisy gatherings and anti-social driving.
It points out that excessively noisy vehicles, particularly those with illegally modified exhausts, cause avoidable disturbance, public annoyance, and a high volume of complaints. Regular exposure to loud vehicle noise can also have a lasting impact on people's mental and physical wellbeing.
The letter adds: "Despite the strength of feeling in our communities, enforcement remains difficult to deliver at scale because evidence gathering and prosecution are not straightforward.
"While it is already illegal to modify an exhaust to increase noise, enforcement is currently undermined by a lack of clear, consistent and modern legislation.
"There is no single, enforceable roadside decibel limit that police officers can apply. Existing limits vary by vehicle type, age and specification, making enforcement complex and inconsistent.
"There is also no approved, standardised noise measurement equipment for widespread operational use. Current technology, such as roadside noise cameras, cannot yet be used effectively for enforcement due to the absence of a clear legal framework."
This means that police and local authorities are limited in their ability to act. So Mr Mak has joined calls for the Government to:
• Introduce a clear national vehicle noise threshold that can be applied consistently at the roadside.
• Approve and standardise noise camera technology for use across the country.
• Establish a national framework for measuring and enforcing excessive vehicle noise.
• Update legislation to enable evidence from noise cameras to support enforcement action.
A Department for Transport trial in 2022 demonstrated that noise cameras can successfully capture evidence to support enforcement action. However, progress has stalled without clear national direction.
Mr Mak said: "Noisy vehicle gatherings and anti-social driving can really impact communities such as Hayling. More needs to be done to tackle this, but clearer legislation on a noise threshold is required to enable tougher enforcement.
"That's why I support calls for the Government to take action that will enable the police to deal with this public nuisance and bring peace back to our communities."
