Sunday ban on motorcycles?

 

According to the Federal Council, noise emissions from motorcycles are to be significantly reduced. This is to be achieved by a limit of 80 DB. However, it is still unclear under what circumstances the limit of 80 DB is to be exceeded. It has not been clarified at what speed is measured and how and where it is measured.

 

 

The IVM can only shake its head at the present decision. Achim Marten, spokesman for the Motorcycle Industry Association (IVM), told colleagues at Spiegel: "Thedemand for 80 decibels in all driving conditions is unrealistic. It is not defined at what speed, where and how is measured. Anyone who drives past a measuring point with a compliant, normal motorcycle at 100 km/h is always louder than 80 decibels."

 

Michael Lenzen, chairman of the Federal Association of Motorcyclists, said similarly:"We have been calling for a fixed noise ceiling for some time, which applies in all driving situations. The Federal Council has not defined whether the 80 decibels are intended as standing or driving noise, nor what a measurement method should look like in the first place. Such a blanket demand, which is not coordinated with experts, is of no use."

Curious: The current regulation states that motorcycles are allowed to produce a maximum of 77 DB when passing by. This value is measured once with and once without acceleration when new motorcycle models are approved.
 

The Federal Council's decision also provides for further steps. For example, the penalties for conversions of exhaust systems are to be significantly increased, provided that they do not comply with the regulations. "Sound-scene settings", which can be actively switched on and off by the driver, should generally be prohibited. In addition, vehicle security in the event of serious noise overruns is to be facilitated. In addition, a front license plate obligation is discussed in order to be able to prosecute at least the owner of the motorcycle in case of StVO violations. Due to the helmet requirement and the number plate only attached to the rear, speeding drivers often escape the penalty if they are flashed.

An online petition against driving bans on Sundays and public holidays has quickly attracted more than 125,000 supporters. Motorcyclists up and down the country can only shake their heads at the Federal Council decision. Although the majority of bikers agree that some motorcyclists are actually unnecessarily noisy, the blanket discrimination against motorcyclists is rejected. The question arises as to why the Federal Council' decision only refers to motorcyclists. There are also motorists with tuned exhausts and unreasonably noisy driving, who do not seem to be a thorn in the side of law enforcement.