MOTOR NUISANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22960, 11 February 1938, Page 5

MOTOR NUISANCE

LOUDNESS .OF HORNS RESTRICTION CONSIDERED PROPOSALS IN AUSTRALIA [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY. Feb. 4 Consideration may shortly be given to the advisability of restricting the use of motor horns, although the imposition of a "loudness limit" to avoid annoyance to pedestrians and others is not, at the moment, contemplated by the Government.

The Road Transport Department, it is understood, has made some observations on the use of motor horns in city streets, and is in a position to make a recommendation should this bo sought by the Minister of Transport.

Complaints have beon made recently about the abuse of the motor horn and the undue volume of sound which can bo emitted by the types of horns with which modern cars are equipped.

Lack of Road Manners The practice of some car owners, by continuous sounding of the horn to endeavour to force all other vehicles to givo them the right of way, represents lack of road manners, and, it is claimed, stamps them as extremely over-cautious or daring, or arrogant, and, in each case, as inefficient drivers. Although it is conceded that motor horns should givo a noto of sufficient volume to provide adequate warning, it is felt by many road users that the warning can be too loud and become a source of sudden shock or fear to pedestrians and others, and lead to unexpected results.

Tasmanian Ban The use of the motor horn in Tasmanian cities at night has been banned, except in emergency. Tasmania is the first State to introduce such a law, and the experiment is reported to have warranted the application of the practice to bigger cities.

Experiments have recently been conducted in England by a departmental committee on noise in the operation of mechanically propelled vehicles, and as a result the Ministry of Transport has been recommended to iinposo restrictions on the volume of motor horns. In spite of a wide divergence of opinion about the "annoyance value" of a horn, it emerged from the tests that the siren (the uso of which is already forbidden except for police, fire brigade, and ambulance services) was responsible for the highest degree of annoyance, while electric buzzer horns were at the other end of the scale.

"Loudness" Tests The "loudness" tests were carried out using the standard phon as the unit of measurement. As a result of the test the committee recommended that warning devices fitted to motor vehicles registered after a date to be determined should not register a loudness exceeding 100 phons when measured under specified conditions at a distance of 20 feet in front and at each side of the vehicles. It recommended that the loudness limit should not be applicable to fire engines, ambulances, or other vehicles used for special purposes, and that the Minister should reserve the right to amend, iu the future, the proposed limit in the light of further developments. . ..