MUMBAI: More than 200 motorists have been penalised by the traffic police for needless honking in a span of nine days. The police also cracked down on 124 motorcyclists, during the same period, for using modified silencers. As a standard operating procedure, the police will now be seizing such motorcycles, removing their modified silencers and would not be releasing the vehicle back to its owner unless s/he gets the original silencer fixed.The sustained enforcement campaign against needless honking has come after a decade. It was in 2008 that the traffic Police had penalised 16,000 motorists within 24 hours as part of a ‘No Honking Day’. Police commissioner Sanjay Pandey has made it clear, in his social media interactions, that noise pollution will not be tolerated, whether on the street or at construction sites. The fine for needless honking for a first-time offender is Rs 1,000, while subsequent offences would attract an enhanced fine of Rs 2,000. “Noise pollution results in anxiety and irritation among road users and could lead to health disorders. As part of our ongoing campaign, we are also acting against pressure horns. Our personnel are removing pressure horns from buses if they are used while driving in residential areas,” said deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Raj Tilak Roshan in a video released online. He advised motorcyclists against using modified silencers as these would be removed and destroyed by the police.Anti-noise activist Sumaira Abdulali said that a horn is intended as a safety device, but it stops being effective if everyone starts honking. “Often, the smallest vehicles have the loudest horns. There has to be a capping on the decibel level of a horn. Training sessions for drivers are also crucial at driving schools,” Abdulali said.Around 68% of traffic policemen, among a sample tested in March 2021, were found to have suffered hearing loss of some kind.Abdulali added that the police’s campaign against honking should not fizzle out in a few months and must be made a permanent feature.Another activist, who did not wish to be named, said that the number of people penalised is good for a start, but added that the number is too small given the noise vehicles make on our streets
