Almost half of UK adults say they can find some welcome peace and quiet inside their car, according to a new survey.
And if their car’s a Lexus, they are likely to find the cabin a calmer and quieter place than in any other model.
The national survey was commissioned by Quiet Mark, a trading arm of the Noise Abatement Society, and Lexus, which has made a quiet on-board environment a top priority ever since it first began designing cars.
Views gathered from more than 2,000 people revealed that 88 per cent think it’s important to have some quiet moments during a busy day. Forty per cent believe that noise contributes to feelings of stress.
Launched in January last year, Quiet Mark supports and encourages manufacturers to design quieter products. It says this will improve people’s quality of life and create a healthier environment. Lexus is the organisation’s headline sponsor.
Poppy Elliot is Quiet Mark’s managing director. She said: “We identify the quieter high-performance products and solutions that are available, bringing expert advice and guidance on the sound of a machine, helping to make a positive contribution to the soundscape of our lives.
“By choosing to ‘Buy Quiet’ we can literally make the world a more peaceful place for everyone.
“It’s also interesting that we find sanctuary in our cars, demonstrating the manufacturers who design quieter cars are helping to reduce driver stress.”
Paul Marshall, Lexus General Manager, Strategy and Marketing, commented, “A quiet and refined drive is a fundamental part of the Lexus experience across our range of vehicles, from the CT 200h compact full hybrid, to the LS 600h limousine. It is encouraging to see that quietness is something that is valued, and it will remain a key quality of all Lexus cars.”
Quiet Mark and Lexus commissioned YouGov to conduct a statistically relevant survey focusing on issues of noise, peace and quiet in Great Britain.Total sample size was 2037 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 27th-30th July 2012. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
About Quiet Mark
In our stressful lives we are surrounded by a cacophony of sound that we have little power to stop. The louder the noise around us the more energy we waste to overcome it, and it is getting worse day by day. If we don’t do something about this soon, our ability to hear the subtle sounds around us will disappear. Quiet Mark is embarking on a journey to redress the situation, to create a demand for the use of quieter technology in our homes, in our workplace and in the open air. Quiet Mark, a not-for-profit trading arm of the Noise Abatement Society charity, sprang from the response to public complaints received by the Society’s 24/7 national noise helpline, concerning the volume of excessive noise made by household tools and appliances which invade the fabric of everyday life.
Quiet Mark brings the answer with a universal symbol and system of support for consumers and industry alike and is a vehicle to finance transformation of the aural environment for the benefit of all. Quiet Mark product submissions are assessed by a team of the UK’s leading acousticians at the Association of Noise Consultants.
The response from industry internationally has been overwhelmingly positive with over 35 leading global brands across first 30 product categories from dishwashers to garden tools now on board including AEG Electrolux, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Whirlpool who have achieved awards for their quieter products with the distinctive purple Quiet Mark logo. The world’s first quiet showcase featuring the award winners and other practical peace making solutions in Quiet Mark’sWin a Quiet Life in 2012 monthly promotion at www.quietmark.com
About the Noise Abatement Society
The remit of this national charity is to abate excessive and unnecessary noise to protect the public and improve the environment. Working with Government and Industry over the last fifty years the Noise Abatement Society has achieved a reputation for collaborative partnerships to find practical solutions to noise problems, underscored by programmes to raise awareness and educate about measured, considered and responsible use of sound.www.noiseabatementsociety.com
