900.000 people affected by harmful traffic noise in Switzerland

Nearly 1 in 9 people living in Switzerland today are affected by harmful and excessive noise, a new study from the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) has shown. The vast majority of the noise is caused by car traffic.

Nearly 1 in 9 residents of Switzerland impacted by noise

In the report, the FOEN estimated that 900.000 people in Switzerland suffer from “annoying and harmful” noise where they live. Around 740.000 cases have been attributed to noise emitted by passing cars, followed by 80.000 cases caused by aircraft noise near Swiss airports and 30.000 by railways.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, noise hotspots can be found in cities and the immediate proximity of motorways. Noise in risk areas during the day can reach as high as 80 decibels, well above the 60 decibel noise limit advised by the government. However, the official Swiss guidelines are well above the recommended limit advised by the World Health Organisation; for them, 2 million people in Switzerland suffer excessive noise.

According to the Tages-Anzeiger, a person experiencing anything above 55 decibels (the sound of a running motor) on a constant or regular basis is at a higher risk of illness. Continued noise puts our bodies on high alert, increasing stress and raising blood pressure and breathing rates.

More serious conditions can also be caused by excessive noise, notably high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, depression, heart attacks and strokes. According to the FOEN, every year, 500 cardiovascular deaths in Switzerland are the result of noise pollution. 

In addition, regular loud noise near schools is proven to slow the cognitive development of children. The FOEN also estimates that noise overall costs the economy 2,6 billion francs a year, in spending on healthcare, loss in property value and cuts to quality of life.

Road noise on the decline in Switzerland, for now

There is hope on the horizon, though: the FOEN noted that compared to 2015, road noise has been reduced by 40 percent, while rail traffic noise has decreased by 60 percent. The government also has proven methods at its disposal to try and reduce noise, including installing quieter road surfaces and reducing speed limits in built-up areas from 50 to 30 kilometres per hour. Some towns are even trialling "noise cameras" to encourage drivers not to rev their engines.

However, while the Federal Council have the know-how to reduce noise, it’s unclear whether they will use it. In June, for instance, Transport Minister Albert Rösti (SVP) announced plans to change the rules to make it much harder for cities, cantons and local councils to reduce speed limits.