Report turns up nos t hgv
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SMELLS, noise, ground vibration and London smog: these are blamed on heavy goods vehicles in a report to be sent by the Greater London Council to the Department of Transport this week.
The report calls for more stringent regulations to control noise and emissions in all new vehicles.
Written by the scientific adviser to the controller of planning and transportation, the report says that 60 per cent of people find some aspect of traffic annoying. "Heavy goods vehicles play a large part in causing these problems;" he says.
The extent of the vibration problem is said to be partly dependent on axle weights, suspension design, road condition and vehicle speed.
The council says that there is growing evidence that dark smoke in cities is being caused by road vehicles as opposed to domestic chimneys and the levels of smoke increase in winter.
The blame for high ozone levels in London's atmosphere during last summer also goes to heavy vehicles. The report says that vehicle emissions are one of the raw materials for the production of ozone by the sun's rays.
The increase in what it terms "photochemical smog concentration" in London last summer is causing concern to, the council; it wants the Government to assess the situation and then limit the levels of emissions from goods vehicles.
It also wants the levels of smell of exhaust emission to be controlled. It says that with the smoke itself smell is one of the major contributors to a bad environment.
New noise limits taking account of low-frequency noise which causes rattling window panes and vibration in buildings are also needed but the council recognises that these can only be adopted in the form of an EEC directive.
Legislation is needed to ..nforce any new noise rules, the report says. "Otherwise some manufacturers will be Denalised by constructing luieter but more expensive vehicles."