Health hazard - Combating noise with controls and speed limits
Motorcyclists are closely examined for noise levels during controls in the Black Forest. "Noise is a topic we want to engage more with," said the leader of the traffic police inspection in Baden-Baden, Günther Preis. "Residents are slowly going to the barricades."
Motorcyclists are significantly louder than cars - this was already shown in a report published by the state transport ministry last year. Nearly every third motorcycle passing by is as loud as a pneumatic hammer or a lawn mower.
This is not only annoying for residents, but it can also make them sick. The land wants to protect people from noise with a new action plan. "Noise is a major and often underestimated environmental burden for people. It can make you sick," said Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann (Greens). With a noise action plan, one wants to achieve that no one is exposed to health-endangering noise anymore.
Noise planning should help affected residents
More than 750 cities and municipalities are obliged by the EU to draw up plans to protect against noise. However, many small communities often fail to create these plans on time, according to a statement. With the statewide noise action plan, it will be ensured that there will be a noise action plan everywhere in the future, said Transport State Secretary Elke Zimmer (Greens). For affected residents, this is important. Since the noise action plans are approximately binding for authorities, as Zimmer said. "If there is a provision in such a plan that a speed limit of 30 km/h would make sense to reduce noise, then there is no traffic authority left that says no, we won't do that."
We have already achieved a lot in the Southwest with noise protection, for example through speed limits, road repairs, or the use of quieter road markings, as Zimmer said. Nevertheless, there are still hundreds of thousands of people who are exposed to critical noise levels on the streets every day.
An resident: The racers come after 6 pm
During a control in the Forbach district of Herrenwies (District Rastatt), 30 motorcycle riders and drivers were checked recently. Police officers checked their speed and thoroughly examined whether machines had been manipulated, for example at the exhaust. The officers were also equipped with a noise measurement device - penalties apply for violations.
One in ten of the motorcycles checked in Forbach had building modifications noted, as a police spokesperson reported. These modifications will be continued, Preis announced. "We are also present during the European Championship."
A resident complained about the high noise pollution in the warm season, especially on weekends and evenings. "Between 6 pm and 9 pm, the racers from Karlsruhe and Pforzheim come," reported the 68-year-old woman.
French gendarmes also present during control in the Black Forest
At the control near the Schwarzenbach-Dam reservoir, three motorcycle gendarmes were involved on the Alsace. "The technical inspection is more thorough than in France for us," summarized the squad chief, Sacha Damm. As part of the German-French police cooperation, controls are also carried out in the Vosges. The gendarmerie belongs to the armed forces in the neighboring country but also fulfills police duties.
The noise of motorcycles is also a topic in other regions of the country. For five years, there has been the initiative Motorradlaerm in Baden-Wuerttemberg, where many communes are involved.
- The leader of the traffic police inspection in Baden-Baden, Günther Preis, noted that noise is a growing concern among residents in the Black Forest.
- The state transport ministry reported that nearly every third motorcycle exceeds the noise level of a pneumatic hammer or a lawn mower, which can be a significant health hazard.
- Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann of Baden-Württemberg emphasized that noise is a major environmental burden, often underestimated and capable of causing sickness in individuals.
- With the implementation of a noise action plan, the government aims to ensure that no one is exposed to health-endangering noise levels, including in smaller communities obligated by the EU.
- The state transport secretary, Elke Zimmer, highlighted that the statewide noise action plan will ensure that all cities and municipalities in Baden-Württemberg have a noise action plan, protecting residents from excessive noise.
- During a control in Forbach, 30 motorcycle riders were checked for speed limit violations and noise levels, with penalties for transgressions.
- In response to a complaint about high noise pollution, the 68-year-old woman from Herrenwies noted that motorcyclists from Karlsruhe and Pforzheim would often pass through her neighborhood between 6 pm and 9 pm on weekends.
- French gendarmes joined the German authorities in conducting controls in the Black Forest, as part of the German-French police cooperation, to address the health hazard caused by motorcycles' excessive noise levels.
