ban honking is feasible

To  cm, Transcom, CS, KSPCB, Enforcement authorities,

Bangalore Mirror and Times of India
Bangalore.

Sirs,

todays times of India page 2 top copy item(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Ban-horns-for-a-silent-city-pollution-board/articleshow/42053007.cms) on KSPCB demand to Ban honking in the city was sound of silence to my ears after waging a constant battle from 2007 (http://mbnataraj.blogspot.com/2010/05/ban-honking-under-existing-rules.html). However the deafening  effects of noise pollution for everyone is irreversible. We have paid the heavy price for inaction already. The palpable euphoria for us post independence Indians is equal to Gandhiji must have felt at 12 midnight on 15 august 1947.

However the speciousness of the authorities arguments are beyond belief.

1. The supreme court orders on noise are almost 15 years old.

2. CMV-if the TV news item is correct) limits horn levels for scooters at 88 db, two decibels less than the permitted engine noise racing the engine should be enough to warn the other road users!

3. Banning honking contrary to the myth that it encourages or causes accidents, in reality promotes cautious driving. Try disconnecting your horn for a day and drive or see how much honking and speeding loud horn driver indulges in. It is never the case or the responsibility of the government to encourage honking to reduce accidents. It is never a party in any accident. This rule much practiced has caused an increase in accidents besides condemning millions of citizens other than the honker and the honkee, to permanent deafness. Almost every, repeat every yellow board heavy vehicle is fitted with a pain inducing horn. Now 2 and 3 wheelers are fitted with 4 wheeler like horns which startle and distract road users into possible accidents.

4 . Nothing prevents the authorities from banning honking. Infact current orders almost mandate it.
5. The usual excuse of lack of manpower to enforce, should result in setting up a central complaint system where citizens can send the list of vehicles fitted with such horns and even reward them -the usual is 30 percent in US cities- for whistle blowing. The additional expense can be recovered from the guilty. It will have a further deterrent effect.

Thanking Gandhiji for creating the concept of citizen power in India

M B Nataraj

Microbiologist-Medical Technologist

MS(Georgetown Univ, wash DC)

MT(American Medical Technologists) USA

279, Mahalakshmi Lay out

Bangalore-560086.