HIGHWAY RECREATION AREAS NOISE PROTECTION AS A ROAD SAFETY IMPROVING FACTOR

The article discusses the problem of noise pollution on the territory of driver's recreation areas on roads of various categories. Recreation areas can be both a separate element of roadside infrastructure and an integral part of multifunctional road service areas (MRSA). Recreation areas are not equipped with means of protection against traffic noise, the increased level of which makes it difficult for drivers to have a good rest. Obviously, this circumstance increases driver overwork while driving, thereby increasing the likelihood of road traffic accidents (RTA). The article proposes to protect recreation areas and MRSA with the help of noise protection screens (NPS), the installation of which will improve the quality of rest (including short-term) of drivers. At the same time, for the noise protection of a specific MRSA (M-4 Don highway), a screen with a height of 3 m was proposed, and its acoustic efficiency was calculated. Also, in the article, as a first approximation, an assessment of reducing the risk of road accidents by reducing the level of traffic noise at the rest areas of drivers is given.