Noise Level Response to Number of Vehicle at a High Traffic Area in Kelantan

The noise generated by vehicles continuous to be significant problem at most major highways. This study emphasized on noise level response to number of vehicles at a high traffic area in Kelantan. The study was conducted at Pasir Mas- Salor Highway to study the traffic noise levels which contribute to noise pollution and to identify the effect of noise pollution towards the local community at Pasir Mas-Salor Highway. A sound level meter (TENMARS TM 102) was used to measure the traffic noise level at three different hours and different days. The noise was measured in A-weighting scale unit of decibel, dBA. Measurements were taken during 8.00am-10.00am, 12.00pm-2.00pm and 5.00pm-7.00pm during the weekday and weekend for three months with total of six data which are three for weekday’s data and another three for weekend’s data. The traffic count was also being held to relate the number of vehicle with the noise produced. The distribution of questionnaires also be done at the study area to identify the effect of noise pollution towards the residential. The questionnaires were about the knowledge and concerned of the community towards the environment and health. Findings put the average noise level in the study was the highest on April during the weekday at 8.00am- 10.00am with 83.2 dBA compared to the other two months. The reading during the weekend in July at 8.00am-10.00am recorded the lowest reading of noise level with 70.2 dBA. Overall, the noise level recorded for three months had exceeded the standard level stated by the Department of Environment (DOE) Malaysia standard which was 55 dBA in day time. The result of the one-way ANOVA test carried out on the dependent variable average noise revealed not statistically significant with the value of F (2,l5) = 16.59, p = 0.298 meanwhile the result of the Speannan’s test showed a positive relationship between the variables, but have a low statistically significant, r = 0.217, p = 0.387. The distributions of questionnaires for 377 respondents showed most of the respondents are aware with the noise pollution and agreed that noise pollution can affect the health and environment. These finding are very useful to be used as reference and guideline for future regulations on noise limit to be implemented for areas in Malaysia.