More than two-thirds of the French population reports being bothered by noise, according to a recent report. Prolonged exposure to noise can lead to a range of health issues, including sleep disturbances, increased stress levels, and a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. The World Health Organization ranks noise as the second most significant environmental factor contributing to illness in Europe, following air pollution. To monitor and manage noise exposure, France uses strategic noise maps (CBS). These maps help measure noise levels and inform policies aimed at reducing noise pollution. The latest data show that 21.8 million people in France are exposed to road noise levels that exceed European standards, which is more than 30% of the population. An additional 2.4 million people are affected by rail noise, and 600,000 by air noise. Some individuals are exposed to multiple types of noise simultaneously. Noise exposure is particularly concentrated in large urban areas, which account for more than three-quarters of the affected population. For example, the Île-de-France region, which includes Paris, is home to 37% of those exposed to road noise and 40% of those affected by rail noise. The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions are also heavily impacted by noise pollution. Transport noise has measurable health consequences, making it a significant public health concern. Road noise alone is a source of strong annoyance for nearly four million people in France, causes sleep disturbances for hundreds of thousands, and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. While these effects might seem small on an individual level, collectively they result in an average loss of about a month of healthy life per person over their lifetime, with some urban areas experiencing losses of several months. The figures may be conservative, as strategic noise maps do not cover all sources of noise, and recent studies have identified additional health impacts, such as premature death and learning difficulties in children, which are not yet included in regulatory assessments. The European directive 2002/49/EC requires the creation of strategic noise maps every five years. The most recent maps were produced in 2022 and will be updated in 2027. These maps are created using a standardized method across Europe to facilitate comparisons between different areas. Strategic noise maps identify regions where transport noise exceeds European thresholds of 50 decibels (dB(A)) at night and 55 dB(A) during the day. These noise levels are then compared with population data to estimate the number of people exposed to transport noise, helping to assess the health impacts of noise pollution. Currently, the maps cover major roads and rail lines, key airports, and urban areas with more than 100,000 inhabitants. They are not only used for reporting purposes but also guide infrastructure managers and local authorities in creating noise reduction plans. To reduce noise at its source, measures such as limiting traffic speeds, restricting traffic in certain zones, or using quieter road surfaces can be implemented. If these measures are insufficient, noise barriers, such as acoustic screens or merlons, can be installed, or buildings in noisy areas can be better insulated. In the long term, reducing noise exposure involves thoughtful urban planning, including the placement of buildings and infrastructure. Tools like diagBruit, developed by Cerema, allow for the assessment of noise risk in a given area before any construction or development project begins, helping to make more informed urban decisions.