Driving Ban for Noisy Motorcycles

They cause unnecessary noise, environmental pollution, resource waste and endanger other road users.

In good weather, they roar for pleasure over alpine passes, along lakeshores, through valleys and villages. The population and animals feel severely harassed. Cyclists also feel uncomfortable next to the noisy and high-pressure emissions. From Andermatt towards the Oberalp Pass, for example, traffic flows back and forth like on a highway, and this in alpine terrain where humans and animals seek peace and recreation.

Motorcycles are allowed to travel significantly louder than passenger cars. The unsporting pleasure society harasses and endangers itself, residents, environment, animals and nature. Nothing sensible is being transported either. Some apparently ride the louder, the better. And they are becoming more numerous, as are the fatal accidents.

Over a million people and animals must live with too much noise on Swiss roads. They bear the health risk while some noise makers want to have their loud fun.

In 2021, motorcycles recorded a new high with 56,375 new registrations. The noise pollution of the population is still not adequately captured by noise level measurements averaged over the year. Police controls in this regard hardly take place.

In Switzerland, the excessively loud motorcycles, particularly on popular pass roads, in the foothills and Alps, but also in the Mittelland, have been a major nuisance for years.

Tyrol does it better

On popular excursion routes, motorcycles whose stationary noise exceeds 95 decibels have been banned since June 10, 2020. The closures also apply to tourists. Those who violate the ban must expect a fine of 220 euros. With this, Tyrol responds to noise pollution from noisy motorcycles. Especially on summer weekends, roaring motorcycle traffic with high-revving driving during acceleration and braking processes disturbs the peace in the Alps. This driving ban based on noise, the first of its kind in Austria, is intended to lead to noticeable relief for humans and nature.

The noise impairs humans and nature excessively. Various parliamentary initiatives in Switzerland have so far failed due to the argument that noise levels must comply with EU directives in order not to jeopardize the land transport agreement with the EU. Since the driving ban in Tyrol is obviously possible in EU-compliant manner, motorcycles with a stationary level of over 95 dB/A should also no longer be allowed to drive in Switzerland.

Noise stresses the population as well as other living beings and makes them sick. Motorcycle noise devalues Switzerland's natural landscapes and drives away tourists seeking recreation. We should not be disturbed in our well-being to such an extent by a minority (Art. 15 USG), and avoidable nuisances should be avoided (Art. 42 SVG). Causing unnecessary noise for pleasure is already prohibited today.

Many who live on busy roads are fed up with the noise. As is the Noise League Switzerland.It demands in a petition that politics take action. The federal government should provide noise speed cameras, introduce a noise ceiling, demand higher fines and ban rattling sounds also for sports cars.

IG Wild beim Wild also demands that politics finally take decisive action and advocate for the welfare of humans and animals – to end the noisy epidemic of motorcyclists on the roads! On mountain routes, a speed limit of 60 km/h should additionally be established.