COMMUNITY AND INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE TO CHANGES IN TRAFFIC NOISE EXPOSURE. ENVIRONMENTAL ANNOYANCE: CHARACTERIZATION, MEASUREMENT, AND CONTROL -- PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ENVIRONMENTAL ANNOYANCE, CONFERENCE CENTRE WOUDSCHOTEN, THE NETHERLANDS, SEPTEMBER 15-18, 1986

This paper presented the results of research undertaken to assess the permanence of the benefits and disbenefits of reducing road traffic noise. Both medium term and long term adaptation were investigated. The medium term adaptation was studied at 3 sites, involving 90 respondents in all. Acoustic and psychological surveys were conducted at roadside sites subject to upward and downward changes in noise level in 3 phases: before the change in noise exposure, 2-3 months after and 17-22 months after the change. Changes in L10 (18 hr db(a)) between the first and second "after" study were less than 1 db(a). There was no indication that the effect of a decrease in noise diminishes over a period of up to 22 months. However there was a significant change in the overall opinion of the area (it had improved), and the rating of the highest noise level which would be acceptable to be able to hear (which was lower). Long term adaptation (after 7-9 years) was studied at 5 sites, and involved a total of 507 people, who were interviewed at home, not on the street. Noise measurements (using a community noise analyser) and a social survey were carried out, accompanied by simultaneous classified traffic counts. A comparison was made between respondents who were resident when the change in noise level occurred and those who were not. These results showed that the effects of change in noise exposure were real and substantial. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 820771. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0444808655
• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier Science Publishers BV

  Biomedical Division, P.O. Box 211
  Amsterdam,   Netherlands  1000
• Authors:
  • GRIFFITHS, I D
  • Raw, G J
• Publication Date: 1987

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 333-343
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Ministry of Communications, Republic of China
  • Publisher: Ministry of Communications, Republic of China

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Before and after studies; Conferences; Interviewing; Noise; Psychological adaptation; Sound level; Traffic
• Uncontrolled Terms: Decreases
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 2208: Adaptation (psychol); 2267: Attitude (psychol); 9148: Before and after study; 8525: Conference; 9009: Decrease; 9147: Interview; 6747: Sound level; 755: Traffic; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00492511
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 0-444-80865-5
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 31 1990 12:00AM