Road traffic is the most common and the most unpleasant source of noise. It is estimated that currently about one third of residents of Poland are exposed to excessive noise. The former Bielsko Voivodeship was included among those of particularly high exposure to excessive noise. It was estimated that about 32% of the former Bielsko Voivodeship was in danger of exposure to excessive noise and it was assumed that 52% of all noise related problems was caused by road traffic noise.
      Also in the Cieszyn area road traffic noise is basically a major source of excessive noise and related problems. Dense traffic within Cieszyn is associated mainly with the three border crossings located within the town and crossed by over three million vehicles a year (table 10).

Table 10.
Number of vehicles crossing the border on road-crossings in Cieszyn 1998-2002.
 

The road traffic noise level in Cieszyn has been studied twice by the Voivodeship Environmental Protection Inspectorate in Bielsko-Biała. The first measurements were taken in winter 1992/1993; noise level was then measured in 29 points in three series: during the rush hour, during times of regular traffic and at night.
In the first six months of 1998 following noise level measurements were taken in 30 measuring points. The points were located along communication routes in busy points of the town (at the busiest traffic junctions, in the vicinity of hospitals, schools, leisure and recreation areas, areas and buildings of historic interest and nature conservation areas). In each of these points 5 rounds of measurements were taken and traffic volume was determined. It was found that:

• in the Cieszyn area typical rush hours do not occur; there occurs a short-lived rise in traffic volume (15-20 minutes) just before and after 6 am and 7 am, and a slightly longer one (30-40 minutes) before and after 2 pm and 5 pm;
• acceptable noise criteria have been exceeded by minimum 15dB(A) both during the day and night in all measuring points;
• particularly affected are: the traffic junction at ul. Katowicka and ul. Stawowa (73.7 dB(A) during the day and 71.6dB(A) at night) and also: ul. Bielska, ul. Stawowa, ul. Liburnia, ul. Zamkowa, ul. 3-go Maja, ul. Wyzsza Brama, ul. Garncarska, ul. Borecka, ul. Kolejowa and ul. Katowicka;
• in comparison to measurement results from the years 1992-1993 the level of road traffic noise has generally risen by 5dB(A);

The following factors have been recognized as the main causes of high level of road traffic noise:
• considerable rise in traffic volume in comparison to the previous research: that is by 15-20%;
• lack of natural noise barriers (green zones, earth banks etc.) along streets in the central, heavily developed part of the town;
• exceeding the speed limit within the town;
• poor condition of road surfaces in town;
• poor condition of motor vehicles.

In order to improve the acoustic climate of the town the researchers have recommended:
• consecutive introduction of changes in road traffic management in the historic part of the town (car parks outside the town, limiting delivery and passenger vehicle traffic accompanied by simultaneous speed limits);
• construction of noise screens alongside roads leading to borders in areas of dense development, especially by Elementary Schools no. 6 and no. 7; (construction of similar screens would be also recommended by Elementary School no. 3 in ul. Hallera).