Road Traffic Noise and Annoyance: A Quantification of the Effect of Quiet Side Exposure at Dwellings

Previous studies indicate that residents may benefit from a quiet side to their dwellings. The influence of the level of road traffic noise exposure at the least exposed side on road traffic noise annoyance was studied in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Road traffic noise exposure was assessed at the most and least exposed facade (L-den,L-most and L-den,L-least respectively) of dwellings for subjects in a population based survey (N = 1,967). It was investigated if and to what extent relative quietness at the least exposed facade affected the level of road traffic noise annoyance by comparing two groups: (1) The subgroup with a relatively quiet facade; (2) the subgroup without a relatively quiet facade (large versus small difference in exposure between most and least exposed facade; DIF = 10 dB and DIF < 10 dB respectively). In addition, it was investigated if and to what extent L-den,L-least affected the level of road traffic noise annoyance. Results indicate a significantly lower road traffic noise annoyance score at a given L-den,L-most, in the subgroup with DIF = 10 dB versus DIF < 10 dB. Furthermore, results suggest an effect of L-den,L-least independent of L-den,L-most. The estimated size of the effect expressed in an equivalent change in L-den,L-most approximated 5 dB for both the difference between the two subgroups (DIF >= 10 dB and DIF < 10 dB), and for a 10 dB change in L-den,L-least.