Mangalore: Horn Ok...No Please! Glaring Reality of Blaring Noise Polluters
Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
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Mangalore, Jul 1: A new order by the Supreme Court banning dark sun films in vehicles created quite a few ripples across the country a couple of months ago. Ever since the rule came into effect, traffic policemen have been busy catching erring commuters and removing the tints on their vehicles.
However, this rule is nothing new. It was a part and parcel of Motor Vehicles Act, but no one knew of it, nor anyone cared until forced to. Rule 100 of Central Motor Vehicles Act and rule 177 of Motor Vehicles Act state that any vehicle fitted with dark glasses / sun films is liable to be fined Rs 100.
There are many other rules in the book that have not been strictly implemented. One such important rule is against the use of harsh, loud, multi-toned and pressured horns, especially in commercial vehicles and very importantly, in buses.
The two-way horn switch
These sort of horns have an intense and adverse effect on the ears, especially among children and senior citizens. It is quite common to be stuck in traffic jams in the city mainly during peak hours, but when a bus or any car behind you honks loudly, despite knowing there is not a single inch for you to move, can be quite unnerving and a harassment almost.
Many of the heavy commercial vehicles possess both battery and air-pressure horns. It is fitted with two-way switches most of the times. Once the vehicle enters the city limits, the horn is switched on to battery mode and when the vehicles leave the city limits, again the air-pressure horn mode is activated. Hence, it is difficult for the police to identify the erring drivers.
The bottomline is, it is the people who suffer because of the blaring ear-splitting honking all day, and for those with houses close to the road in the main parts of the city, it gets even worse as they cannot even escape the noise bombarding their living rooms. Even in and around hospital zones where there are 'No Horn' signs, hardly anyone adheres to the warning, nor are the traffic police bothered.
Honking loudly is also a tool for intimidating other drivers, and when the driver happens to be a woman or a learner, it leads to anxiety and nervousness, many a time causing accidents too. The bus drivers often tend to think the road belongs to them, and blaring horns indiscreetly makes things worse for other drivers.
It is high time the city traffic departement take this matter seriously and save the public from such unthinking and indifferent drivers and their horns. It is not just for the sake of precious human lives, but for the environment too which daily gets battered by the shrieking and screaming vehicles.
Blaring horns indiscriminately is actually a punishable offence under the Motor Vehicles Act. The fines are as below:
Improper horn usage while driving - Rs 100 (CMVR 105(2) (ii) 177 MVA)
Fixing multi-toned/ shrill horn - Rs 500 (119 CMVR 190(2) MVA)
Blowing pressure horn - Rs 100 (96(1)/177DMV)
Honking in silence zones - Rs100 (21(ii) RRR 177 MVA)
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