The Brussels City Council is urging the Brussels Region to address increasing noise pollution by vehicle engines and exhausts in areas such as the Heysel Plateau.
This noise is especially noticeable at nighttime alongside the Brussels Canal. It mostly involves cars and motorcycles piloted by urban racing enthusiasts who exhibit dangerous driving behaviours.
Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA) councillor Mathias Vanden Borre, the main author of a motion passed unanimously on Monday night, acknowledges that existing measures have marginally improved the situation. These measures, introduced by Brussels Region and City, include Low Emission Zones, 30 kph zones, and peaceful neighbourhoods.
The Belgian road safety institute VIAS has calculated that reducing the speed limit from 50 to 30 kph has cut noise pollution by 3 to 4 decibels.
On the Heysel plateau, the City has taken several steps against urban racing. These include frequent police interventions and vehicle seizures (64 administrative and 2 judicial last year).
In response to exhaust noise, Brussels Mobility initiated a partnership with the police to combat noisy motorcycles in the city's streets. When a noise-standard violation is observed, the vehicle is immediately referred for technical checks. During one operation in Poelaert, five two-wheelers were sent for checks.
Noise radars, potentially useful for measuring noise peaks, are currently being tested by several cities, including Brussels. Brussels Environment has launched a pilot project, with positive initial results in detecting the loudest vehicles.
However, these radars lack the necessary conformity certificate for penalising offenders.
Consequently, the adopted motion seeks swift approval by Brussels Region of noise radars and the establishment of a regional regulation on motor vehicle noise.
The Region is also being asked to continue the collaboration between Brussels Mobility, the police, and certified technical inspection centres to allow immediate on-site noise-standards checks.
Opposition leader David Weytsman (Mouvement Réformateur) abstained on the motion, not out of opposition, but to express his regret at the text’s failure to focus more on the broader issue of noise, a sentiment shared by Didier Wauters (Les Engagés). Despite his reservations, Wauters voted in favour of the measure.
