A Selection of Car Alarm Resources Noise Pollution New York is, without question, the noisiest city in America. Two good articles address the scope of the city's problem: Noise Off by Michael Burger in the Gotham Gazette, and Quiet, Please by Julio Vitullo-Martin in the City Journal. If you want to hear the city's noise for yourself, click here. Mayor Mike Bloomberg has started to address this issue with his "Silent Night" initiative, described here by NPR. (Car alarms figure prominently in the Operation Silent Night press release.) In December 2005, Bloomberg passed his long-awaited noise code revisions. Meanwhile, the New York City Council has released a study called "Bombarded: New Yorkers Exposed to Excessive Noise" (pdf), which focuses on loud subways. In 1999, the World Health Organization released its updated analysis of the health impact of Community Noise. Another recent study of traffic noise is described here. For a clear summary of the psychological impact of noise, check out "Noise Takes its toll on Stress Levels" from the Seattle Times. France takes noise seriously, and has an innovative solution. Summaries of the latest academic research on noise and health are here. If you don't have time to read all that, just watch this 30-second ad. Finally, sound artist Max Neuhaus gives his nuanced view on the aesthetic effects of noise, with sections on traffic noise and car alarms. Other good articles: "Research on Noise Disappears In the Din," by Malcolm W. Browne, New York Times, Mar. 6, 1990, pp. C1 "Now Hear This -- If You Can", by Anastasia Toufexis, Time Magazine, August 5, 1991, v.138, n.5, pp. 50. "Cut Out That Racket", by John Sedgwick, Atlantic Monthly, Nov. 1991 "Noise Experts Agree: America is Land of Battered Eardrums," by Malcolm W. Browne, New York Times, May 14, 1992, pp. B13 "Noises Out: What It's Doing to You," by Patrick Cooke, New York Magazine, Nov. 2, 1992 "BRAAAP PADOONK (Shh) BONG BONG; No Wonder the City Never Sleeps, Says a Chorus of Noise Complainers", by Shaila K. Dewan, New York Times, Sept. 4, 2001. "Hey, Keep It Down, Will Ya? Mayor's Noise Plan Insists on It," by Jennifer Steinhauer, New York Times, Oct. 3, 2002 pp. A1 "Linking Airplanes to Test Scores," by John O'Neil, New York Times, Oct. 15, 2002, pp. F6. "Just Too Loud," by Jeffrey Kluger, Time Magazine, April 5, 2004 Noise Pollution Advocacy Groups These groups are working to combat noise pollution. Please support them! Noise Off Noise Free America Noise Pollution Clearinghouse (great library of noise research available online!) League for the Hard of Hearing Acoustic Ecology Honku (poems about honking cars) H.E.A.R.: Hearing Education and Awareness The Noise Consultancy Institute for Safe, Quiet, and Durable Highways Right to Quiet Society (Canada) NoiseWatch (Canada)