/ understand that new noise regulations
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for vehicles came into effect in July 1968 and that there were to be roadside noise checks. I have not seen any activity of this type and very little mention in the Press about these regulations. Why is this?
AThe regulations to which you refer did
take effect from July 1 1968 for existing vehicles, with more stringent limits set for new vehicles manufactured after April 1 1970. There has been very little activity on roadside noise checks owing to the apparent difficulties of making individual vehicle recordings when there is other traffic noise.
As long ago as May 20 1968 at a special demonstration at Brands Hatch (CM May 24 1968) a chief constable said that in his view the regulations were "absolutely unenforceable": this opinion was shared, he believed, by every other chief constable in the country. We believe that this view has been repeated since then together with a refusal by certain police forces to obtain the necessary equipment although the Ministry maintains that the meters are satisfactory and the regulations are both workable and enforceable. These are the reasons why you have not come across roadside checks.