New noise-detecting traffic cameras unveiled as part of crackdown on 'boy racer' misery

The devices are set to be trialled in Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol and Great Yarmouth, with the Department for Transport saying they will help identify and punish those found guilty. illegally adapt their cars to make them noisier

Department for Transport is testing new cameras to crack down on anti-social drivers

New high-tech noise-detecting traffic cameras will detect selfish drivers who illegally modify their cars, transport chiefs announced today.

The devices are set to be tested in four areas over the next two months, with microphones set to identify motorists revving engines and using illegal exhaust fumes.

The government is today confirming a £300,000 trial in Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol and Great Yarmouth over the next two months.

The camera records an image of the vehicle and its noise level, creating a “digital body of evidence” that can be used by police to issue fines, according to the DfT.

It was developed on a private test track to prove its accuracy.

The DfT said road noise can contribute to health problems such as heart attacks, strokes and dementia.

Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan says technology will make streets quieter (

Picture:

Justin Ng / Avalon)

He added that the annual cost of urban road noise, including lost productivity due to sleep disturbance and the impact on health, is estimated at £10 billion.

Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: "Beware of unruly drivers - these new cameras will help police crack down on those who break legal noise limits or use illegal modified exhausts to make excessive noise in our communities.

"We will work closely with local authorities and police to share any findings, and I hope this technology will lead the way to quieter, more peaceful streets across the country."

Vehicle exhausts and mufflers should be properly maintained and not modified to increase noise. Failure to comply may result in a £50 fine on the spot.

Executive Director of the Noise Abatement Society, Gloria Elliott, said: 'Excessively loud vehicles and anti-social driving cause disruption, stress, anxiety and pain for many people.

"It is dangerous and disrupts the environment and people's peaceful enjoyment of their...