PLANNING INDICATIONS
7.1 Road and rail traffic
7.1.1 Reduction of emissions

Noise protection is most efficient if it is applied to the sound source. This is why traffic noise abatement measures shall preferentially be conducted at the vehicles.

This is especially important for trucks as about 25 trucks per hour cause as much noise from road traffic as 400 cars (at 50 mph (80 km/h) and on the same road surface). Possible noise reduction measures are a sound-insulated enclosure of the engine, technical measures at the trailers (low-noise trucks) and the reduction of the rolling noises through quieter tyres. The expression of "low-noise vehicles" is defined in § 49 of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulation (Straßenverkehrszulassungsordnung/StVZO).

Transportation companies and industry permanently try to reduce the vehicle-related noise level from rail traffic by using new materials. These include:

• converting the traction unit from shoe brakes to disc brakes
• converting freight wagons to quieter shoe brakes
• using sound-optimized vehicles, e.g. with wheel absorbers