Incidents involving the use of horns and their relationship with the L10 noise descriptor at Naranjal station, Independencia, Peru

Abstract

The growth of the vehicle fleet in Lima has increased environmental noise [1], mainly associated with high traffic volume and congestion [1]. The TomTom ranking places Peru among the countries with the highest levels of congestion and traffic-related time loss worldwide. According to the ATU (2024), the Naranjal station is one of the highest noise-generating areas, classifying it as a critical hotspot. In addition to the high concentration of people and vehicles in their surroundings, there is the frequent use of vehicle horns by drivers [2]. Although this device was designed for emergency situations, its repeated and inappropriate use contributes significantly to noise pollution [3]. In the surroundings of the station, sound pressure levels exceed 70 dB(A), surpassing levels recommended by the WHO and the Environmental Quality Standards (EQS). The greatest noise generation occurs during the day, due to the high concentration of public transport vehicles and taxis, as well as commercial activity [4]. In this context, the present study aims to determine the sound pressure levels attributable to horn use, in order to quantify its contribution to environmental noise at the Naranjal station and to generate evidence to support actions for controlling its use. The results indicate that horn noise contributes 9,6 dB(A) to the total environmental noise, highlighting the need to implement noise control and prevention strategies focused on modifying driver behavior and protecting the auditory and emotional health of exposed workers.