Press: Ministry of Health to increase noise limit on motorways

The Ministry of Health is planning to increase noise limits on motorways in the Czech Republic by five decibels, E15 reported. In 2006 the government decided on a highway noise limit of 60 decibels during the day and 50 decibels at night. The newspaper said the change would affect both limits. The World Health Organization considers noise of above 42 decibels to have negative effects on the health of nearby residents, while noise of 55 decibels and higher is believed to prevent healthy sleeping. E15 suggested one of the possible reasons for the change in the law was an attempt to avoid having to build anti-noise barriers.