Trials of ‘noise cameras’ to detect boy racers have begin in Birmingham.
A new road camera designed to identify and track drivers who break the law by revving engines and using modified exhausts has been installed in Birmingham today (18th January), as part of a nationwide trial to clampdown on antisocial driving.
The trials are part of a £300,000 government-backed competition to tackle noise pollution on some of the loudest streets in Britain.
The new technology uses a video camera in conjunction with a number of microphones to accurately pinpoint excessively noisy vehicles as they pass by.
This means that if drivers break the law by revving their engines unnecessarily or using illegal exhausts, they will be automatically detected.
The camera takes a picture of the vehicle and records the noise level to create a digital package of evidence that can be used by local police to fine drivers.
The camera has been placed in three trial sites in Bradford, South Gloucestershire and Great Yarmouth. The camera will now be heading to the final trial site in Birmingham.
Roads Minister Richard Holden said: “Boy racers with their souped-up cars are an anti-social menace in Birmingham and across the country.
“This trial is vital to help our police clamp down on these thoughtless drivers who over-rev their engines and use illegally tampered exhausts.
“As this technology continues its journey around some of the noisiest streets in the country, it is gathering vital data, which in future will help bring peace and tranquillity back to our cities, towns and villages.”
Road noise is known to contribute to health problems, such as heart attacks, strokes and dementia.
The Department launched a competition to identify the areas to host the cameras in April and extensive testing at a private test track facility took place to perfect the use of the technology for enforcement.
Now in the next phase, the locations for these roadside trials have been decided based on the impact to local residents of illegal noisy vehicles, after MPs across the country applied for the camera to be set up in their local area. If successful, the cameras could be rolled out nationwide.
Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid said: “I’m delighted that Bromsgrove District has been selected for this trial.
“Quieter roads will no-doubt promote the health and well-being of the community whilst helping to secure our roads against unsafe and anti-social driving.”
The research findings will be published once the trials have ended and the results have been analysed.
Atkins-Jacobs Joint Venture is acting as a technical consultant for the trials, providing acoustics expertise, design, modelling and asset management.
The noise camera is designed and developed by MicrodB.
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