But saying that a vehicle cannot exceed 60 db at 50 feet is perfectly reasonable.
“The average background noise in a house is about 50 dB(A), while a car driving down a street will be measured at 60 dB(A) at a distance of 300 feet. A “quiet” vacuum cleaner will emanate sound at 70 dB(A), about the same noise level that is attributed to an expressway when standing 100 feet away from it. Nearby trees on a breezy day will measure about 55 to 60 dB(A) on a decibel meter.”
Much of the annoyance is not from the sound level its self, but the time of sound and what is making it. If the music is what I like I do not object. If the music is hip hop I find it irritating. I find the sound of an old Harley Davidson enjoyable but the sound of an old Kawasaki 500 two stroker irritating.
As for the “being inconsiderate” part -
Most people like to think of them selves as being “normal”. Anyone who does not think as they do is therefore “abnormal”. To the person operating a loud sound system in his vehicle it is normal. Any one who does not like it is abnormal ( a nut case). Evidence of this can be seen right here on FR – look at the responses to threads dealing with religion, science or just everyday cultural encounters like loud sound systems.
As I posted earlier, I have learned not to let petty annoyances bother me. Why should my desire for peace and quiet outweigh another person’s desire to listen to loud music?