Well, I had written about this before. In India, where it is a battle between "cattle, cars and humans",I have to be really crazy to ask for a ban on honking! No where else (maybe) can you see the post 'Sound Horn" which is there on the back of all the big ones in the Indian road. It has to be here, but I did not see any such posts in the Volvos, Mann and Scanias. No, they did not display this.
But cant we make more eco-friendly auto horns? Or atleast, why cant we choose horns which don't produce that squeaky, ear-piercing (some say it is "musical"! Bap re) horns that is deliberately picked to "terrorize" and "chase" the other motorists? I am sure we have the sound norms. Is it because that we don't know (or we just don't bother to care) that sound when used carelessly is a great polluter? Believe me, I did not hear even a single horn during my entire stint in Europe. I have to say that majority of our drivers derive great pleasure (!) in honking. This is maniacal and dangerous!
In India, as things stand now, we can honk and we must. But let us use horns which are more soft and let us learn to use it with more discretion. If we really wish to take our hands of the horn, we must first discipline ourselves and stick to the basic rules of driving. Say no to rash driving which includes not overtaking through the wrong side, jumping lanes, irresponsible overtaking and slowing/stopping at pedestrian crossings! What wishful thinking, yeah?
Sound pollution from auto honking is really bad. The humans, flora and fauna are really sick about it. Plants may respond favourably or unfavourably to sound. Some trees like Ficus religiosa are planted to cut down noise pollution. However, all life forms are distracted by the heavy and indiscriminate noise. The earthly forms, like us get disturbed by sound. So, let us go soft on honking. Let us live more responsibly.
