The Impact of Heavy Vehicles on Residents on Arterial Roads and State Highways

This paper describes investigations that have been undertaken on the effect of heavy vehicle traffic on residents. The study focused on sixteen roads in four North Island communities. The roads selected were predominantly regional arterial roads and had heavy vehicle volumes ranging from 2.1% to 32% of total traffic volume. The study had two main components, a residents' survey and an environmental analysis of the roads. Results showed that traffic was the main community concern on the roads surveyed. Heavy vehicles were perceived to be a particular problem by residents in Gisborne and Whangarei. Concern about heavy vehicles in these cities appeared to cut across a wide range of people. However, heavy vehicles were most likely to concern women, households with children, and people at home during the day. The level of concern was not related to the actual volume of heavy vehicles but to the perceived volume, especially any perceived change in volume. The main concern about heavy vehicles appeared to be the nuisance that they caused. Heavy vehicles were one of the main contributors to complaints about vehicle noise and vibrations. In addition, comments about exhaust fumes often related to heavy vehicles. They were also the major contributor to perceived negative effects of traffic and roads on property values. The environmental survey revealed few differences in road environment between roads where residents mentioned disliking heavy vehicles and those where they did not. The only differences that emerged were differences in change in noise level when heavy vehicles passed and differences in the noise protection afforded by fencing, trees, and house construction.