Pune which has the maximum number of two-wheelers in the world! And if someone takes a noise-o-meter and measures, Pune will top it too! Alarmed by cars, unnecessarily blowing horns on the city roads are adding to the noise pollution level of city. The ill effects of noise pollution were well known, too much of honking was also an exhibition of a person’s impatient temperament. But in a city like Pune it’s not possible to drive without honking. Even though there is a good footpath, pedestrians do not use it and walk on the road and they behave as if they are using footpath. These brainy people choose to walk three or four in a row with their backs facing oncoming traffic. Now if a person does not honk in this situation it’s bound to be a recipe for disaster. The best part is those brainy people give bad stares at you. As the countdown progresses steadily at red signals, and as the number approaches single digits, many two wheelers and some cars in the front row have already taken off and if we wait for the green light to come on, people from behind start honking horns repeatedly. These days one may have come across various other types of irritating horns. Some sounding like an injured donkey and some with various bollywood songs tunes. These should be banned and those using it. The honking cannot be totally eradicated as there are some people who honk for no reason and you can’t monitor everyone everywhere. All the automobile companies be it two-wheelers, four-wheelers and even three-wheelers should follow a guideline for the noise intensity of the horns for their vehicles manufactured. Rules should be implemented for honking on the traffic signal stoppages. Hoardings depicting ill effects of honking should be put up as part of social service advertising should be put up all across the cities specially the traffic signals.
