Traffic Noise

Highway traffic noise is the unpleasant, unwanted sounds generated on our streets and highways. Modern acoustical technology is providing better ways to lessen the adverse impacts of highway traffic noise. The level of highway traffic noise depends on three factors: (1) the volume of the traffic; (2) the speed of the traffic; and (3) the number of trucks in the flow of the traffic. Heavier traffic volumes, higher speeds, and greater numbers of trucks increase the loudness of traffic noise. Another more complicated factor is loudness perception. As a person moves away from a highway, traffic noise levels are reduced by distance, terrain, vegetation, and natural and manmade obstacles. Traffic noise is not usually a serious problem for people who live more than 500 feet from heavily traveled freeways or more than 100 to 200 feet from lightly traveled roads.