The European Parliament and EU member states agreed new tyre rolling resistance and noise limits. The agreement came in February as part of a first reading agreement on new EU vehicle type approval rules.

The text follows the Commission’s original proposed text on rolling resistance and noise emissions. Specific derogations for snow tyres and "special use" tyres, such as special duty or off-road use, were introduced.

The deal is expected to be endorsed by the full parliament in a plenary vote on 11 March. The new standards will apply from 2012, with rolling resistance limits to be tightened in 2016-17.

What does this mean for public health?

The new EU green tyres policy will reduce noise pollution in congested areas. Bystanders, pedestrians, and to a certain extent, drivers, will be protected from excessive noise levels. This can be a low-impact policy on noise reduction, with minimal costs to implement, that has benefits reaching the greater public.

Road traffic noise isn’t just an annoyance. This is a problem responsible for about 50,000 premature deaths and 245,000 cases of cardio-vascular disease every year. Nearly half of all EU citizens, about 210 million people, are exposed to levels of traffic noise judged to be detrimental to health by the World Health Organisation (55dB or more).