Noisy Cars: Melbourne’s Southeast Is Victoria’s Capital for Ear‑splitting Vehicles
November 29, 2016
MELBOURNE’S outer southeast is Victoria’s noisy car capital, with hundreds of drivers nabbed for exceeding restrictions.
Holden Commodores and sporty Nissan Skylines are the most common ear-splitters. Blokes are almost always behind the wheel.
Environment Protection Authority Victoria data provided to the Herald Sunshows more than 5000 noisy vehicle notices, ordering drivers to get their vehicles tested and repaired, have been issued over the past three years.
The Casey Council area — which takes in Berwick, Cranbourne, Hallam, Hampton Park and Narre Warren — was home to the most noisy vehicle owners statewide.
EPA executive director Chris Webb said noisy vehicles were a community concern, especially when they were deliberately modified.
“We recognise that for some of these vehicle owners the noise is all part of the attraction,’’ Mr Webb said.
“What they need to understand is that for a large part of the community, particularly on suburban streets at 2am, their passion is not shared.”
The noisy vehicle data covered notices from January 1, 2014. Nine out of 10 offending drivers were men.
EPA staff and police can issue notices when following up a report or during roadside operations.
Data from the past 18 months showed Holden Commodore sedans and utes and Nissan-brand cars, mostly Skylines, were the top vehicle makes to fail roadside noise blitzes.
Subaru Impreza and WRX models and Ford Falcons were also common offenders.
Car enthusiast Sam Pasino has spent close to $100,000 on modifications for his “top-end hoon’s car” but said he understood the EPA’s crackdown on noisy vehicles.
“It’s about being respectful — when I pull up to the traffic lights, I’ll turn the volume down. If you do it properly, you can do it legally,” said the owner of Phatt Audio Concepts in Braeside.
The 43-year-old said he was used to being grouped with loud and obnoxious drivers, and every time he took his Mazda RX7 out, he was “looking for sirens”.
“For me, it’s an art form. I’ve built everything from start to finish myself and it’s an expression of yourself.”
