Noise call
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MPs have called for a Commons debate on the latest Common Market proposals to reduce sound levels for vehicles.
The all-party Select Committee on European legislation has recommended they debate because of the sensitivity of the subject and the issues raised by the European Commission's proposals.
Under the latest proposals, member states will not be able to issue a European type approval certificate after October 1, 1987 for a new type of diesel engined minibus, dual purpose vehicle, light goods vehicle, or any new type of lorry unless it complies with the provisions of the directive.
Common Market countries would also be able to refuse national type approval if it did not comply.
From October 1989, member states will be allowed to ban the entry into service of vehicles that do not comply with the directive, and under the terms of the proposals a further review would have to be agreed upon by the end of 1990. The committee pointed out that the UK law would have to be amended to allow vehicles meeting the directive's standards to be type approved.
From the evidence given to the MPs the proposals appear generally acceptable in principle. The Noise Abatement Society did however, raise the question of enforcement and maintenance of standards while BL and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders raised the question of lead times set out in the document while the Road Haulage Association, AA and RAC pointed out the possibility that costs would go up.
BL also warned that problems could be caused by specialised types of vehicles, such as fourwheel drive and light diesel engined vehicles.