Loud trucks a public nuisance
Truck noise has become a real nuisance on Cayman. But it appears the police do not care to enforce the law that trucks meet manufacturers’ standards. Some of these trucks emit up to 90dB of noise, and seem to enjoy doing so.
Auntie’s answer: I checked with the RCIPS about your question and a spokesperson first explained that the truck noise is a result of an additional brake that is supposed to be used if the vehicle is going down hills with a large load. This brake is a factory-set feature so comes with the truck. Clearly there is no need for this extra brake in Cayman.
Previously, when the police have received complaints from the public they have issued warnings to the trucking companies and enforced the applicable part of The Traffic Law, 2011 that deals with excessive noise, the spokesperson explained, pointing to Section 93 (1), which says, “A person who does any of the following commits an offence and is punishable under section 138…
“(f) uses a vehicle with its engine in such a condition that it gives out
excessive or obnoxious smoke, fumes, noise or odour;
“(g) uses a horn or other audible warning device on a vehicle excessively or in such a way as to cause unnecessary discomfort
to another person.”
The spokesperson added, “If there is a complaint from the public about this then we will send out a reminder and look out for this offence.”
I was also told that now that I have notified the police that the public is annoyed by this noise, they “will address the matter accordingly”.
Let’s see — and hear — what happens.
The law mentioned in this column can be found on the CNS Library
Category: Ask Auntie, Police Questions, Transportation Questions
Video camera set up in Bodden Town recording violations would go a LONG way to dealing with this nonsense! If police can get a licence tag with video evidence, they SHOULD be able to prosecute . . . in a more perfect world, that is! So far they have done nothing with the dirt bike videos supplied!
Life is too short to worry about such insignificant things.
Bullshit
The quality of life in cayman is eroding…one careless comments by ass%$W^ like yourself at a time.
Of course an easy option would be to outlaw this braking system, and insist all truck imported to Cayman be without such devices before clearing the port. A simple solution.
Crickets….
I never let stupid things bother me. 1)If someone is affected by trucks making noise move further away from the road. 2)Change windows to double insulated and turn on a/c with fan blowing. Development is a key contributor to the Gov’t coffers that help pay for schools,NAU,roads etc. So get use to it.
When you are standing outside Hurley’s at Grand harbour and can’t have a cconversation with someone because of the very loud trucks that can be heard coming a mile away, that is a problem. It is a daily occurrence that most people witness save the police who seem to be both invisible and deaf.
6:11pm , are you implying that any and everything must be as long as it contributes to the economy it’s ok ? What happens if Dart could say to everyone on the Island that they can’t make noise ?
Just get use to it .
I think it is wrong for these trucks to be operating in disregard to the Laws and should be prosecuted .
If the Police sat hidden in Bodden Town from morning to night, they would not only hear these brakes but would also see some horrendous speeding through the narrow Main Street as the drivers speed both ways, empty truck, truck returning east for another load. But the cops are NEVER around.
This is another of these laws…tinted windows, dui, unchained dogs running wild, littering, loud car music, speeding, abandoning vehicles on the roadside of public and private roads etc etc….that don’t get enforced. We don’t do enforcement here.
But in the pirate code it is OK and that is what they follow here. Get used to it. Called in many times with no effect whatsoever.
Some, or many, of those truck drivers obviously believe that the law does not apply to them and drive at dangerous speeds. So that is when the factory fitted brakes are useful but need not be used if the truck is being driven with a sense of decency.
Exhaust brakes as supplied on the truck do not come on during gear shifts, only on deceleration. That has has been defeated to make extra noise. The really loud noises are quite intentional and not supplying any braking, just making the driver happy. Many places have signs where the speed limit drops in residential areas saying no exhaust brakes, and they are less effective at low speed than on the highway anyway.That would help a lot!
Nothing will happen
so true
If enough people complain, then it will happen.
Only if the right people complain, only then is something likely to be done about this.