Honking laws gone astray
16 out of 17 silence zones fail to comply, ambient noise standards
Motorists in the city have thrown environmental laws to the wind, with most of them honking at places like schools, places of worship and hospitals designated silence zones.
Based on the ambient noise data generated for the last five years, 2015-19, in seven cities, which includes Hyderabad, it was noted that, honking knows no bounds. As many as 16 out of 17 silence zones fail to comply with the ambient noise standards. This, officials say, is due to the unabated use of fancy, multi-toned horns, which are meant to be banned. Breaking the law, these cacophony-makers exceed the upper limit of 112 decibels.
The manufacturers of such noise-making vehicles must take certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), bureau officials say that they have not received any such application till date
● THE MANUFACTURERS of such noisemaking vehicles must take certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
in the city.
“We don’t have any record of manufacturers seeking such permission. Usually, all such automobile-part manufacturers are mandated to keep to the laws laid down in the Indian Standards Act, and the Central Motor Vehicle Rules,” said a senior official of the standards office, requesting anonymity. Experts from the central pollution control board were of the opinion that there should be clear demarcation of honking zones and silence zones.
“If there is incessant honking, then motorists who are at the receiving end often develop anxiety, nervousness or something else. That is why there is a no honking signs near schools and hospitals. If honking brings anxiety to motorists, imagine what it would do to patients and students,” A. K. Sinha, a retired scientist with the board told Deccan Chronicle. It is not just experts, even school parents say that there is no regard for the rules.
“Honking in front of schools is a regular affair. There seems to be no enforcement of the rules,” said Seema Agarwal, a parent and member of the Hyderabad Public School Parent’s Association.