Road noise in Europe: The case for transparent and standardised data presentation

It has been nearly three decades since the European Commission adopted the Green Paper on Future Noise Policy in 1996, marking a pivotal step towards developing an EU – wide noise policy, ultimately leading in 2002 to the formal adoption of Directive 2002/49/EC, known as the Environmental Noise Directive. The END mandates that the EU Member States develop strategic noise maps and action plans every five years. Since its inception, four rounds of noise mapping and action planning have been completed: the first in 2007, followed by subsequent rounds in 2012, 2017 and 2022. These efforts have systematically assessed environmental noise exposure across Europe, informing action plans aimed at reducing its impacts. A significant evolution in EU noise policy has been the requirement for all EU Member States to use Common Noise Assessment Methods in Europe for their noise mapping activities. Based on mapping results, road traffic continues to be the primary source of environmental noise in urban areas, with millions of individuals exposed to harmful noise levels. Increasing evidence underscores the health risks associated with noise exposure, with studies suggesting that reducing road traffic noise to levels recommended by the World Health Organization could lead to significant improvements in public health outcomes. Despite these concerns, obtaining accurate and comprehensive noise data from Member States remains a persistent challenge. This paper examines the data submitted from EU Member States under the END and identifies critical needs for the future.