Effects of Road Traffic Noise and the Benefit of a Quiet Side in Newly Built Houses

Previous research shows that access to a quiet side of the dwelling can reduce the adverse effects of noise on health and wellbeing. However, it is relatively unknown whether the same effects apply to newly built houses. A socio-acoustic survey was conducted in 29 residential areas exposed to various levels of road traffic noise (N=870) in Örebro, Sweden. A majority (80 %) of the participants lived in houses built between 2002 and 2013, and 20 % in houses built between 1985 and 1996. One group was exposed to low noise levels from road traffic (LAeq,24h < 50 dB; n=113) and two groups were exposed to noise levels between LAeq,24h 53 and 67 dB at the most exposed façade and had either access to a quiet side (n=383) or not (n=371). Access to a quiet side reduced annoyance; at noise levels between LAeq,24h 58-62 dB 37 % of those without access to a quiet side were highly annoyed but only 19 % of those who had access to a quiet side. Sleep disturbances among residents with their bedroom facing a busy road was about three times higher than among those with their bedroom facing an inner yard.