EVALUATION OF CAR NOISE ON THE HIGHWAY VILNIUS - KAUNAS - KLAIPEDA

The noise of cars is a big and still unsolved environmental problem. The noise produced by cars and traffic intensity which has a great influence on the noise level, was studied on the highway Vilnius - Kaunas - Klaipeda (the length - 311,40 km) on five places (Grigiskes - 18 km; Sargenai - 102 km; Kry2kalnis - 204 km; Legai - 254 km; Klaipeda - 310 km). Seeking to evaluate seasonal characteristics of the noise level, the studies were conducted in winter and summer at a distance of 7,5 m, 20 m, 50 m, 100 m, 150 m from the highway. The maximal noise level produced by cars was determined as follows: at a distance of 7,5 m from the highway it was 66-89 dBA; for 20 m - 61-82 dBA; for 50 m - 52-70 dBA; for 100 m - 49-64 dBA; for 150 m - 48-61 dBA. Equivalent noise level ranges from 71 to 75 dBA at a distance of 7,5 m from the highway in winter, while in summer it ranges from 72 to 76 dBA. No clear differences of the noise level were determined for winter and summer seasons.