The effect of creating a quiet side on annoyance and sleep disturbances due to road traffic noise

Paper in proceeding, 2012

There is growing evidence that having access to a quiet side of a dwelling reduces the harmful effects of road traffic noise on health and wellbeing. One measure to create a quiet side in existing noise-exposed residential areas is to erect shielding buildings that fill existing gaps through which road traffic noise penetrates. Within the EU-financed project QSIDE, we investigated the effect of this type of measure on the acoustical conditions and resident’s noise responses in a socio-acoustic intervention study. Results on sound levels, road traffic noise induced annoyance and sleep disturbances, as well as the perceived sound environment before and after the creation of a quiet side are presented in relation to results from previous similar studies. The implication for guidelines and sustainable goals related to public health, urban noise policy and urban development plans are discussed.