The Issue Road traffic noise is one of the most widespread and growing problems in urban areas. While it has long been known that hearing can be damaged by exposure to noise, it is also believed that continual noise, even at low or moderate intensity, can cause psychological discomfort and sleep disorders.
Traffic noise disrupts school classrooms and makes normal communication difficult.
Traffic noise levels in urban areas are increasing, and the areas affected by noise are spreading. With an increasing reliance on road transportation, road traffic in built up areas has increased beyond original planning expectations. In response to increasing community concern over increased traffic noise, the Road Traffic Noise Task Force was originally established in 1989, to recommend strategies for controlling road traffic noise, and included representatives from the RTA, the EPA and other government agencies, the community and the Road Transport Association. In 1991 it released Reducing Traffic Noise-A Guide for Home Owners, Designers and Builders, and produced its final report in 1994. The recommendations in the final report considered both mitigating effects of noise on existing roads and methods to lessen noise when planning transport routes.