Road Traffic noise in Peshawar - An increasing Problem

Abstract

This prospective study, based on the hypothesis that overcroweded traffic in peshawar produces noise, abocve the maximum permissible level, as compared to that in the silent zones which is increasing progressively, was a continuation of a part of the study conducted in 1995. Road traffic noise was measured at 18 busy locations in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 using bruel and Kjaer Integrating Sound level meter. it was found that road traffice load in Peshawar has increased to a greater extent and is producing noise above the national environemental standard for motor vehicle exhaust and noise, i.e. above 85 dB (A). Although, it has shown rising trends during the past four years, the annual rise was not found to be satistically significant (p>.05, "F" Test). howeve a significant difference was obse3rved when road traffice noise levels of the year 1998 were compared with those of 1995 (p< 0.05). moreover the difference between traffic noise level in the field as compared to that in th silent zones was found to be statistically significant (p<0.01)