Traffic Noise Affects Every Third Person in Austria
According to the mobility organization VCÖ, every third person in Austria is affected by traffic noise, as current data from Statistics Austria shows on the occasion of the Day Against Noise on Wednesday. The most frequently cited main cause is motor vehicle traffic, mentioned by 84 percent of respondents. The VCÖ stated in a press release on Tuesday that lower speed limits, increased traffic calming in local areas, as well as the promotion of walking and cycling are effective measures against traffic noise.
"Too much traffic and too high speeds increase the burden for residents," said VCÖ expert Katharina Jaschinsky. In the latest microcensus by Statistics Austria, 34 percent of the population aged 16 and over reported being affected by traffic noise. This amounts to a total of 2.57 million people. Of these, 84 percent cite motor vehicle traffic as the cause, ten percent cite air traffic, and six percent cite railways and trams.
According to VCÖ, permanent noise pollution can cause sleep disturbances, high blood pressure, or even heart attacks and strokes. However, there are already effective measures against it that can be quickly implemented. A speed limit of 30 instead of 50 is perceived by the human ear as roughly equivalent to halving the traffic volume. A reduction in the speed limit also helps on rural roads, highways, and expressways in affected areas.
Communities and cities can also reduce the traffic noise burden for the population by promoting walking and cycling. The VCÖ called in the press release to mark problem areas for cycling on an online map on the VCÖ website by May 4th. The entries will be collected and forwarded to the responsible authorities, it was stated.
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here .
vol.at
