Blaring horns a nuisance, action needed asap!

Pressure Horns: A serious concern

Noise pollution has become an integral part of city life. Be it noise from industries, construction sites, music systems and loud speakers everything contributes towards noise pollution. The excessive usage of pressure horns in vehicles further adds to the woes. Noise from pressure horns has severe impact on human health not only physically but psychologically as well. The frequent exposure to pressure horns can cause hearing disabilities or permanent damage to tympanic membrane (ear drum). It is responsible for stress, anxiety, high blood pressure and hypertension. It is a source of irritation and restlessness especially for senior citizens and patients. Pressure horns are used rampantly by speeding buses and cars which create panic among other commuters and it often lead to accidents. Pressure horns are used by restless drivers to get their path clear and hence they are root cause of road-rage incidents. Youngsters drive rashly and use pressure horns outside schools and colleges. It even causes a lot of disturbance to students especially during exams. The excessive honking at traffic signals, railway crossings, markets and traffic jams is unbearable. The signboard declaring a horn-free zone is often ignored and there is no check on violators. The traffic police must conduct special drives outside schools, hospitals, colleges, market areas and residential areas to check violators and strict action must be taken against them. There should be special check on buses. The fine must be imposed on them. Drivers must be made aware about hazards due to pressure horns. It is the responsibility of every individual to maintain peaceful and eco-friendly environment without using pressure horns.

Kamaljit Kaur

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Strict action should be taken against violators

It is often seen that youngsters use pressure horns mostly to attract the attention of girls. Pressure horns create nuisance not only for the old people, small children and pregnant women, but for animals as well. Using such horns is against the Motor Vehicles Act and the police should take stern action against violators. Not only this, the government should take strict action against all those companies who are responsible for manufacturing such horns. Parents, too, can play an important role in guiding their children so that they know how to drive vehicles sensibly and without causing nuisance to others.

Ravinder Kumar Jain, Haibowal Kalan

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Use dipper instead of horns

To lower the pollution level, we should begin by taking small steps. Horns cause pollution and often lead to fatal accidents. There should be some restrictions on the usage of horns. Instead of horns, dippers should be used. Traffic lights should function well. A policeman should be present on all major bazaars or areas. Proper guidance should be provided by the police to all. Only people having licence should be allowed to drive and others must be punished.

Dishant Sethi, Ahmedgarh

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Stringent action must

Noise is not merely a nuisance, but a serious environmental problem and a health hazard. It needs to be controlled as it leads to fatal accidents. Guidance, counselling sessions and advices alone cannot serve the purpose unless and until stringent action and penalty is imposed on defaulters. Government should not allow usage of pressure horns except during an emergency.

Bipan Sethi, Ahmedgarh

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Blaring horns a norm on roads

Blaring horns are the norm on roads and add severely to the stress levels and noise pollution of the city. We are impatient and always in such a hurry that we fail to respect the rights of other road users. In western countries, honking is frowned upon and is equivalent to cursing. People don't honk or try racing on the busy road just to overtake the fellow rider, which is very common in India. The use of horn is a part of driving etiquettes. Even during traffic jam, people know honking won’t help, but they will relentlessly honk. There is lack of awareness among citizens as well as the authorities. The controlling authorities generally lack the technical expertise to measure the intensity of polluting noise. Standards for noise emission for motor vehicles should be revised. Better traffic management practices may reduce noise level to some extent. Government needs to concentrate on imposing rules that already exist but are not properly implemented. Fix responsibility on local bodies and administrative authorities for strict vigil on noise sources. Unless its progression is addressed by means of technology, executive and judiciary measures, it may create conditions unsuitable for leading a comfortable life. It is high time everyone do their bit in curbing noise pollution, which is otherwise turning into a slow and silent poison.

Akash Kumar, Jagraon

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Spread awareness by ‘Do not honk’ campaign

Despite knowing the ill-effects of the use of pressure horns, its excess use seems to have become embedded in the city driving etiquette. Residents in city often honk out of frustration, impatience, nervousness, irritation and reasons other than safety. People must know that noise can be very damaging to the ear. The normal level of hearing for humans is between 0-25 decibels (db), but the average noise on roads is around 85db and slightly above what many researchers found out to be dangerous. The hearing system can be injured with destruction of hair cells of the inner ear not only by a loud blast or explosion, but also due to prolonged exposure to high noise level. Hence, we must use horns only when the situation really demands. To curb the use of pressure horns and unnecessarily honking in the city, we should start ‘Do not honk campaign’.

Ravi Chander Garg, Ludhiana

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Timely action needed

Knowingly or unknowingly, everyone contributes towards noise pollution. Often neglected, noise pollution adversely affects the human being leading to irritation, loss of concentration, loss of hearing. Everybody is in a hurry and is longing to reach their destination without any concern or social responsibility towards fellow travellers. The amount of traffic, narrow lanes and the habitual nature of drivers make it necessary to use horns all time. Heavy fine should be imposed to curb the menace of excessive honking. Youngsters should be motivated to desist from playing with firecrackers, using high sound producing equipment and instruments on festivals and social functions, family get-togethers and celebrations, which cause noise pollution. Textbooks should include chapters teaching civic sense to children and how to be good and responsible citizens. Courts can play a constructive role in adopting 'pragmatic approach' towards the cases dealing with noise pollution. Unless timely action is taken we have a bleak future for the world.

Nikhil Chopra, Jagraon

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Change in behaviour and mindset of drivers required

Using pressure horns is a big menace. This not only creates noise pollution but also leads to fatal accidents. To cure this, strict laws should be made. The traffic police should understand its responsibilities and be more conscious for the better implementations of laws such as the Motor Vehicles Act. But only rules and regulations can’t address this problem. What we need is a change in behaviour and mindset of drivers. Be safe and make others safe on roads. Also, we must not pollute the environment. Pressure horns must be banned completely. High BP, loss of efficiency, deafness and fatigue are some of the problems that people face. Hence, the sale of pressure horns should be banned and fine must be charged from violators.

Kajal Kaushal

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Simple steps needed to check noise pollution

Pressure horns, instead of serving any real purpose, only adds to pollution problem. Air pollution, water pollution along with noise pollution has besieged the city. Health problems are on the rise. Noise pollution can be diminished only if we follow some simple steps. Unnecessary blowing of horns should be stopped. Self-awareness is the need of the hour and common people as well as the authority need to be educated in this regard. Secondly, entry of vehicles with pressure horns should be prohibited in the city. Checkpoints are a must on main routes used by heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses. Strict fine or punishment should be imposed on defaulters.

Harsimrat Singh, Jagraon

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Musical horns should be banned

Ludhiana is slowly turning in to mini Delhi. Earlier, we saw long queues of vehicles only in Delhi, but now Ludhiana is the same. Use of high pressure horns not only affects the environment and creates noise pollution, but becomes the reason of big accidents as well. A standard range of volume should be set for horns. Some people use horns unnecessarily, which not only diverts the attention of other drivers, but also frustrates them. As a result, it becomes the reason for road rage. A limit for the volume of horns should be set and if drivers exceed it a hefty fine should be imposed. A horn checking machine should be there at every place. Musical horns or police siren horns should be banned.

Deepali, Ludhiana

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Fix separate horns for every vehicle

Pressure horns are of varied types and have different specifications. The vehicle registration authority must fix separate horns for every vehicle and document it in the registration book of the vehicle at the time of vehicle registration. Subsequently, when the vehicle is on the road, the police must check that only the horn permitted has been used. Pressure horns are a great source of noise pollution. Therefore, strict follow-up is required. New law should be made, proposing fine and other legal action. The general public also needs to be educated. Prevention of noise pollution is in the interest of every countryman.

Dr G Dev, Kitchlu Nagar

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Awareness the key

Noise pollution is mainly caused by vehicles on roads when

drivers unnecessarily blow horns. Other sources are loud speakers in temples, gurdwaras and mosques. People in the US avoid using horns except during wedding. Noise pollution can be prevented by making strict laws punishable with heavy fine and more so by educating the people in general. Such steps need to be initiated and enforced.

Dr G Dev, Kitchlu Nagar

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On the spot challans must

Parents must keep a check on under-age driving. Secondly, the police must conduct inspection of vehicles everyday on highways and issue on the spot challans.

Gursimar Kaur Middha, Ludhiana

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Pressure horns a growing menace

Pressure horns is a source of nuisance for the public. In order to do away with this menace, noise and courtesy weeks (non-use of horns) with the cooperation of traffic police can be observed. Hoardings can also be displayed at strategic points with slogans such as ‘Honk only when necessary’. Arranging lectures in schools and colleges can also help in creating awareness among youngsters. The ultimate recourse is challan\\ penalty.

Prof KK Sharma (Retd), Khanna

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Next  question

Traffic goes for a toss and thousands of commuters remain stranded due to repeated dharnas and protests in the city. Is blocking of major roundabouts in the city justified? Why does the police fail to take action and why politicians back such activities? Readers can send their comments at [email protected]