Comparative measurements of tire/pavement noise in Europe and the United States

The effect of changes in pavement surface on traffic noise has been widely demonstrated in the literature for situations typical of community noise exposure. Much of this work has been presented in studies of the application of “quiet pavements” in Europe. In general, the reduction in noise is most effective for higher speeds and for light vehicles, and, to a lesser extent, for medium- and heavy duty trucks. In the states of California and Arizona, reductions in traffic noise of 3 dB to as much as 9 dB have been measured when tire/pavement source levels were reduced by similar amounts. Because of this potential for affecting noise levels in the community, state departments of transportation have become increasingly interested in the use of “quiet pavements” in highway applications.