The Geneva Parliament is currently discussing ways to punish drivers of loud cars. For this purpose, a device is now to be developed that can measure the volume of vehicles as they pass - a kind of noise flare.

Traffic noise was the second largest form of environmental pollution after air pollution, the parliament justified the request. Sixty percent of Geneva's population suffered from noise, which could make heart disease and diabetes worse. According to the constitution of the canton of Geneva, the inhabitants are entitled to a healthy environment.

The Parliament therefore instructed the government to develop an apparatus that could detect the volume of cars passing by and flash the vehicle if a threshold was exceeded. The police should be able to pull such booming cars from the traffic. It should then impose penalties in case of exceeding a limit still to be determined, it says in the application.

Development takes two to four years

"The production of a noise radar is technically feasible and generally no more expensive than a speed radar," said Delphine Klopfenstein Broggini, a member of the Greens, compared to the newspaper "Twenty minutes".

However, the development is not easy. The noise radar, for example, must recognize which vehicle the increased noise emission emanates from. Also, it must be able to differentiate between vehicles like home-made louder tractors and regular passenger cars. A corresponding development could only be realized in two to four years.

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Radar: 60 years of mobile speed camera

According to a federal survey, every seventh and every night eight Swiss people are affected by road traffic noise at their place of residence. A particular problem is motorists who deliberately start with squealing tires. The "Noise League Switzerland", an association that advocates a calmer environment, therefore calls for a limit of 80 decibels for sports cars and motorcycles.