Car stereos and mini motos drive Londoners to distraction
Mobile nuisance noise caused by loud car stereos is on the increase and making life a misery for some people in the capital.
An investigation has found that some Londoners affected by noise from car stereos and mini motos suffer from stress and experience frustration.
The research, conducted by Val Shawcross AM on behalf of the London Assembly’s Environment Committee, shows that authorities are able to address mini moto noise reasonably effectively because of recent measures put in place by government, councils and the police. However, car stereo noise is more difficult to tackle.
The report found there is a lack of clarity amongst council and police officers about how to deal with mobile nuisance noise from loud car stereos. There is also reluctance from police and councils to spend resources on this problem as car stereo noise is not perceived as a significant issue in the community.
The report makes a number of recommendations to address the problems of mobile urban nuisance noise:
• The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) should work with councils to improve understanding of the scale and location of nuisance from loud car stereos, create practical guidance for officers tackling the problem and pilot enforcement in hotspots.
• The MPS must provide local police teams with the existing information about the best methods for tackling inappropriate mini moto use.
• The Department of Transport should specifically address nuisance noise caused by mini motos as part of their review of off-road motorcycles.
The findings and recommendations are detailed in the report Booming and fuming: Noise nuisance from car stereos and mini-motorbikes.
