I can admit that I like to honk my horn (loud and proud) at a driver who is about to swerve into my lane -err, okay, maybe I like to remind someone who is going 40 mph on a 60 mph road to speed it up a little, but hopefully we can all agree that horns are kind of necessary.
On the flipside, I’m sort of horn sensitive, as in I don’t think being precautious warrants being horned at on the road. Luckily, most of us don’t have to experience the sounds of honking while we drive. It’s occasional and purposeful, not part of our daily commute.
India’s Honking Epidemic:
It’s an entirely different case in some parts of the world. If you’re living in India, horns are almost definitive to your everyday experience. In 2017, the Central Pollution Control Board banned “sharp, shrill and alarming” car horns. Drivers were urged to stop honking, especially if it wasn’t a matter of safety.
According to India’s Central Pollution Board (CPBC), traffic sounds averages 100db from the street. This could translate to the sound of a leaf blower from around three feet away. The Centres for Disease Control sets 15 minutes as “permissible exposure time” for 100db noise before damage can occur.
Noise pollution can be attributed to construction in Delhi, as residential construction is ongoing. The Ministry of the Forest and Environment advises that there should not be more than 75db in industrial areas, and 65db in other areas. But construction equipment is loud – mixers, cranes, saws and vibrators all make unbearable noise pollution throughout the city.
Other Honking Considerations:
There’s also the issue of aircrafts, as both Delhi and Mumbai have airports within city limits, as well as many flights over residential areas. According to a study published in the British Medican Bulletin, noise or constant honking interferes in complex task performance, changes social behaviour, and causes annoyance as well as hypertension.
In another study by Copper Hospital, which looked at 250 traffic policemen who were exposed to noise for over eight hours a day, concluded that 30 per cent of them had high frequency hearing loss.
If loud noises continue to go undisrupted it might also attract more global attention, and not necessarily in the best way. Tourists are likely to opt out of exploring the vast diaspora because they don’t want to be bombarded with unpleasant noise pollution. India isn’t a society that’s quick to change, but it can no longer shut its ears from the pains that plague its fragile country.
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Related:
How You Can Help The Earth Saviours Foundation
