The Impact of Road Traffic Fluctuations on the Emission of Road Noise

Significant increase in the road traffic intensity raise the noise emission. The authors of this paper present the results of preliminary studies concerning influence of fluctuations in road traffic on road noise emission. The analyses involved data from measurements taken on voivodeship roads in Lesser Poland. Thanks to the traffic data obtained from the measurements, it has become possible to perform analyses of the road traffic impact on the noise level, using a calculation method developed in Poland in the 1980s, subject to update. The results of the analyses indicate the need to focus on road traffic intensity fluctuation phenomenon, as well as its impact on the noise level. Taking this into consideration provides a complete picture of road traffic impact at roads with highly variable road traffic intensity over short periods of time. The observed phenomena constitute a significant problem in road noise predictions, which will ultimately influence the selection of safety measures, in addition to negative impact on the health and comfort of life in terms of inhabitants in areas adjacent to the roads.