Traffic Noise in Kuwait: Profiles and Modeling Residents' Perceptions

Abstract

Measurements of traffic noise at the edge of traffic lanes and at distances equivalent to residence locations, and traffic flow variables for nine freeway/arterial/collector roadway locations in Kuwait are presented. The perceived annoyance impact of traffic noise on a sample of 1,182 exposed residents is described. Principal factor analysis, correlation analysis, and stepwise linear/nonlinear regressions are employed to investigate how well perceptions and noise levels correlate. The mean equivalent noise level was strongly and positively correlated with the total traffic volume, the mean travel speed, and roadway class. The mean equivalent noise levels, measured at distances equivalent to where the residents live, also demonstrated positive and significant correlations with sleeping, reading, resting, telephone conversation, and watching TV—the main welfare indicators of residents' annoyance. Investigations mainly focus on likely relationships between exposed residents' annoyance and measured traffic noise levels. Results indicate that exposure to higher traffic noise levels was naturally associated with increasing annoyance. Residents were most annoyed with noise from traffic at collector streets.