A council in one of the most affluent areas of London has called on the Government to install cameras that can monitor noise levels stop supercar engines from blighting the neighbourhood.
Johnny Thalassites, councillor for Kensington and Chelsea has written the the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, calling for his district to be included in UK-wide trial of ‘acoustic cameras’.
The new technology is capable of capturing the numberplates of any vehicle which exceeds 74 decibels, with an instant fine sent to the car owner.
Thalassites said the problem in Kensington and Chelsea has reached crisis point, with a fleet of Bentleys, Rolls Royce, McLarens and various other supercars turning the streets into a race track.
Mr Thalassites said: “Powerful cars need careful handling and, unfortunately, our borough has seen and heard how certain drivers mistake our streets for a car show. This has been going on for years and it’s reaching crisis point.
“Acoustic cameras would give us a powerful new tool to catch drivers flouting the rules of the road,” he told the Evening Standard.
A DfT spokesperson said: “Not only is noise pollution a nuisance; it can have a range of serious health impacts. This is why we are working hard to tackle this problem to provide the peace and quiet locals deserve.
“We are currently assessing which areas are most suitable for the trials of our roadside noise camera technology, but we welcome the enthusiasm of Kensington and Chelsea to be involved.”