Exterior Vehicle Noise Development: Assessment and Control

Abstract

Noise in modern cities has reached levels great enough to affect the comfort and well‐being of citizens and vehicle exterior noise is the main contributor to this situation. Various laws have entered into force since 1970 to control exterior noise from vehicles, and over the last 40 years the automotive industry has made a great effort to reduce vehicle noise levels. However, over the last 15 years the automotive industry's efforts to reduce vehicle noise have not been reflected in a reduction in urban noise because the actual test procedure does not reflect real driving conditions in our cities. Then, a new measuring procedure has recently been developed. This new procedure has not entered into force yet. In it vehicles are tested in accelerating and constant speed conditions, allowing better representativeness of average urban use conditions of vehicles.