Drivers who rev their engines unnecessarily will be punished more severely in future. The Federal Council on Friday put in consultation a hardening of the sanctions which can go as far as the withdrawal of license.
Complaints from people disturbed by excessive road noise have increased in recent years, notes the government. According to the Federal Office for the Environment, more than one million people in Switzerland are exposed to such disturbances.
In 2019, road noise caused total external costs of CHF 2.8 billion, of which approximately CHF 1.6 billion were attributable to health. According to the Federal Office for Spatial Development, road traffic is responsible for around 80% of these costs.
‘Tuning’ in the viewfinder
The Federal Council wants to act against the scourge. Under the impetus of Parliament, he presented a project aimed at simplifying and toughening the penalties in the event of ‘tuning’ of a vehicle or faulty behaviour.
Already today, anyone who generates unnecessary noise with their vehicle can be denounced. The list of maneuvers considered to generate unnecessary noise will be extended and modernized. Any behavior of this type will now be considered everywhere and at any time of the day as a punishable nuisance.
New facts repressed by a fine of order have been defined. For example, drivers will be fined if they rev their engine unnecessarily. The fault could lead to the withdrawal of license for at least a month. However, this sanction would only be imposed in the event of a repeat offence. If the driver at fault is pinched for the first time, he will only have a simple warning.
Noisy mufflers prohibited
The revision also proposes a ban on replacement mufflers, which generate higher noise emissions than the originally installed components. The admission into Switzerland of such vehicles will also be prohibited. If manipulations are observed on several occasions during checks, subsequent official checks may be required periodically.
The cantons which intensify road noise controls will be able to obtain financial support from the Confederation. Analyzes were also carried out for the installation of acoustic radars. But it is not yet possible to assess to what extent and in what timeframe reliable devices can be operational, concedes the Federal Council.
The consultation lasts until March 23, 2023.
/ATS