Noise as defined by the Environmental Noise Directive (2002/49/EC) means “unwanted or harmful outdoor sound created by human activities, including noise emitted by means of transport, road traffic, rail traffic, air traffic, and from sites of industrial activity [...].” Furthermore, one might add, this sound or these sounds are of duration, intensity or other quality which cause physiological or psychological harm (CE Delft, Handbook). Noise is second only to air pollution in the impact it has on the health of EU citizens. It is estimated that over half of Europe?s population is exposed to unacceptable noise levels. Noise from road transport is the major source, followed by aircraft and rail-way noise (T&E). Noise emissions from transports by ship are regarded as rather low and therefore negligible, as most activities take place outside populated areas (CE Delft, Handbook). This might look different for harbors, though, as some of Europe?s biggest harbors are located close to larger cities (example Gothenburg) and have a noise impact on people living there, not only on people working there. In its 6th Environmental Action Program (2002-2012) the EU has set itself the objective of substantially reducing the number of people regularly affected by long-term average levels of noise. The aim of reducing noise exposure to acceptable levels has been repeated in the renewed Sustainable Development Strategy as well as in the transport White paper and its mid-term review. Despite all efforts in this direction, however, experts claim that EU policy does not seem to recognize that noise is a major environmental health issue (CE Delft 2007), as existing noise limits for vehicles for example have not been revised since 1995, and even then they did not bring about the benefits expected. This was largely because the method used to work out a vehicle?s noise was based on test conditions, which differed considerably from real-world driving (T&E), leading in practice to even weaker limits (CE Delft 2007). Cars are about as noisy today as they were when the first regulation came into force nearly 40 years ago. This is also because each tightening of the limit values was accompanied by a change in the test method, which allowed vehicles to appear to be quieter than they really are. Aside from the vehicle noise standards, increasing traffic and a trend towards larger, heavier and more powerful vehicles also mean that Europe?s roads continue to get louder. In their present form, legislation on vehicle noise and tyre/ road noise are said to be too liberal to have any significant effect. The new standards will apply to new vehicles only, so it will take a long time for the effect of this legislation to make a widespread difference (T&E). Thus, the number of people exposed to ambient noise is consequently expected to increase rather than decline (CE Delft 2007). Yet, traffic noise could be halved with existing technologies and if more stringent limits were adopted (T&E).