Mayo councillor calls for ban for modified 'boy-racer' exhausts

A MAYO councillor has called for an outright ban on modified 'boy-racer' exhausts which he said serve no purpose but to annoy people.

Castlebar-based Independent councillor Harry Barrett made the call for the ban on loud 'boy-racer' exhausts at this afternoon's meeting of Mayo County Council's Environment, Climate Change and Agriculture Strategic Policy Committee (SPC).

There was widespread agreement among members of the SPC that the loud noise generated from modifications to exhausts on cars was a real nuisance during a discussion on the council's proposed Noise Action Plan 2024-2028.

Cllr Barrett told the meeting that he would be calling on the SPC to implement a recommendation to call on the Government to ban the modifications of exhaust which make them noisy.

“These exhausts should be immediately banned. With the emergence of electric cars, cars are getting so much quieter but these exhausts are an absolute annoyance to local communities. What should come out from this SPC is that we are asking the Government through the Road Traffic Act to ban those types of exhausts and for those who use them to be penalised. What purpose do they serve other than to annoy people and residents in rural areas,” he said.

The problem with 'boy-racer' cars was raised by Westport-based councillor Peter Flynn who said that they are the cause of noise pollution in many Mayo towns and he would like the proposed Noise Action Plan to include ways to tackle this problem.

“I live on a busy road in Westport and I appreciate more than most the noise in relation to noise pollution and without question cars are the biggest contributors. It is the boy and girl racers with the souped up cars and double exhaust and this new phenomenon lately of this 'woo' noise. I don't know where it came from but this woo is the new thing in relation to boy racers. It really is annoying and not only impacting on people in their homes but people out for a walk,” he said.

His Fine Gael party colleague Donna Sheridan also agreed that she would love to see noise from exhaust incorporated into the Noise Action Plan. She said she lives in the centre of Castlebar and explained that boy-racers spent four hours around the town last Christmas Day.

“The levels of noise has to be incorporated because it is one the main problems we are facing in relation to noise and traffic levels. It is the loud exhausts and boy racers and at times it can be very difficult. How we incorporate it in the plan is my main query and would love to see how we will deal with it,” she said.

However, Imelda O'Donnell, Executive Engineer in the Roads Design Officer explained that the main noise issues which the council have been asked to address by the EPA relate mostly to roads and transportation and enforcement of exhausts would not be a priority.

“I am told that traffic and cars are not under the remit of the noise act,” she said.

Cllr Flynn expressed disappointment at this and there should be 'real penalties' for drivers whose cars make loud noise.

“No matter what we do to the roads, if someone has a big double exhaust or souped up engine no [road] design will address that issue. Can we include something that brings in real penalties? Now is the time to throw it into the mix if we are going to create an awareness that we are going to do something about noise when in reality it is a document that doesn't deal with it. 

“Talk to people around the countryside and what really annoys them is the souped up cars and the exhausts and the nonsense that goes on with cars at night,” he said.