An auto that launched a thousand horns: Campaign to end honking makes a bang

Noise up to 70-decibels has been deemed safe by World Health Organisation. But vehicular honking alone can pump up decibel levels to close to 110.

Mumbai: Noise pollution in Indian cities are among the highest in the world and honking on the streets is believed to be one of the primary reasons. With numerous medical studies showing how consistently high levels of decibel can have an adverse effect on human health, a campaign against unnecessary honking has been launched in Mumbai.

Awaaz Foundation, in association with Maharashtra transport department, has launched HornVrat campaign with an autorickshaw studded with blow horns all over its body. Highlighting that Mumbai honks 18 million times every hour, the autorickshaw will criss-cross the city urging people to refrain from honking. And while many believe that cramped Mumbai roads is what necessitates honking and that it may be a crucial safety measure, most also agree that it is a general lack of awareness among motorists that leads them to honk when they could do without it.

According to World Health Organisation, sound about 70-decibel levels is safe for the human ear. On Indian streets, honking alone have decibel levels of up to 110 which can have grave consequences for city-dwellers in the long-run.

HornVrat though is not the first campaign of its kind. In December of last year, Awaaz Foundation has launched a similar campaign called Horn Not Ok Please, with RTO officers distributing pamphlets requesting people to avoid honking when not required.