|
Mumbai: Mumbai Traffic Police are planning a "No Horn Day" on April 7, an initiative that will be the first of its kind in the country. The aim is to bring noise pollution levels down and simultaneously improve people's health.
With health experts pointing out how urban noise, including the sound of horns, is linked to several modern-day ills, including high blood pressure, stress and blood-sugar levels, it is little wonder that the programme is being held on World Health Day.
Honking has truly become a big nuisance in Mumbai, rather everywhere in the country, said Harish Baijal, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic.
In comparison, "very few European countries allow people to honk on the streets continuously and unnecessarily, allowing it only on special occasions when sirens are sounded or horns are used," he said.
Impatient motorists and blaring horns are major irritants that must be brought under control, feel Mumbaikars, who are happy that something is finally being done to put a stop to unnecessary honking.
Is it possible?
But several motorists are asking whether such a thing as driving without honking will ever be possible on Indian roads. "Even the media is sceptical about this programme," said Baijal. "But sometime or the other, we have to make a beginning to stop this nuisance," he added.
Initially, motorists may laugh at this campaign but eventually everyone will fall in line, he said.
The days of seeing the words "Horn OK Please" painted on the back of big vehicles will gradually be a thing of the past. But it remains to be seen how effective the police are in implementing this initiative. "No Horn Day is meant to create awareness but we will also fine motorists, especially those who honk in silence zones."
The Traffic Police is conducting a special drive against motorists using pressure/musical/reverse horn and during the past three days, action has been taken against 52 motorists for using these noisy gadgets.
"Can you imagine a motorist was reversing at midnight yesterday with the reverse horn loud enough to wake people up from their sleep?"
The police are appealing to citizens to give them the details of vehicles fitted with these gadgets, and are also asking motorists to refrain from using them.
Supporting the traffic police's effort is Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz Foundation, an organisation fighting against noise pollution.
"A meeting of volunteers, students and citizens' groups will be held on Tuesday [yesterday] to find ways and means of supporting the Traffic Police's initiative," she said.
Driving: Changing habits
The campaign is also meant to change driving habits in the city.
Deputy Commissioner of Traffic Police Harish Baijal said, "The moment a signal turns green, we start honking presuming the person in front of us will not move unless we honk.
"Do we imagine what our indiscriminate honking near schools or hospitals does to the students who are writing their exams or to patients recuperating from illnesses? Baijal asked.
|
