Acoustic cameras installed last June in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have identified almost 10,000 vehicles at four locations, with 289 motorists driving at more than 100 decibels.
The Sunday Times reports that the noisiest, a Lamborghini, recorded 112.9dB, compared to the legal limit of 72dBs for cars registered since 2016.
The report says BMW drivers were most frequently caught, followed by Lamborghini, Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi and Land Rover drivers in that order.
The paper quotes Trevor Cox, professor of acoustic engineering at the University of Salford, as saying, “If you were exposed to these noise levels for a long time in the workplace you would be asked to wear ear defenders.”
It explains that city centres at night have become a magnet for “car meets”, where groups of drivers with heavily modified vehicles congregate to perform doughnuts and other manoeuvres. The Sunday Times adds that in January, acoustic cameras installed by Westminster city council and costing about £15,000 each filmed a gathering of 100 cars performing doughnuts in an exclusive area close to the Royal Albert Hall in the early hours. The police are investigating.
(Picture – Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea)
