‘Honking levels in city as loud as live band’

MUMBAI: The average noise levels emitted from vehicles honking in Mumbai is 110 decibels (dB), which is as loud as a live rock band, reveal the findings of a survey

MUMBAI: The average noise levels emitted from vehicles honking in Mumbai is 110 decibels (dB), which is as loud as a live rock band, reveal the findings of a survey by Awaaz Foundation.

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Awaaz Foundation had in 2012 found that motorbikes were the noisiest at 110dB, followed by four-wheeler vehicles at 100dB and autorickshaws at 95dB.

Sumaira Abdulali, convener, Awaaz Foundation said that bikers use loud horns to push their way through vehicular and pedestrian traffic. “In the absence of any limits for decibel levels of horns, almost all vehicles have excessively loud horns, which are dangerous to the health of pedestrians and drivers,” she said.

According to the World Health Organization, exposure to noise levels above the 85db to 90db limit can lead to hearing loss.

“Continuous exposure to noise in the range of 100dB to 110dB can result in sensory hearing loss. It usually occurs suddenly and if detected at an early stage, then the damage can be reversed,” said Dr Ashwini Kumar Mehta, ear-nosethroat (ENT) specialist, Seven Hills Health Hospital in Andheri.

The Centre plans to introduce rules to reduce noise from indiscriminate honking. A proposal by the road transport ministry, expected to be tabled during the monsoon session of Parliament, considers imposing a fine of Rs5,000 on vehicle owners who use multi-toned and air horns (both banned under the Motor Vehicless Act), Rs500 for a first offence for ‘needless and continuous’ honking and Rs1,000 for a second offence.

“Along with ministers from various state departments, we are in the process of drafting a bill, which will include measures to curb the menace of unnecessary honking across India,” said a senior ministry official. “Fines could be as high as Rs1 lakh for private car dealers that install horns banned under the Motor Vehicles Act.”