The Centre is planning to introduce new rules to check noise pollution as well as to impose hefty fines from up to Rs 1 lakh on the offender. As per the new rules, the driver of a motor vehicle shall not sound the horn needlessly. The rules are likely to be introduced in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament.
The new steps also include imposing a hefty fine on vehicle owners, dealers and manufacturers, to check the hazards of excessive honking that has become common phenomena on Indian roads.
As “needless or continuous” honking will attract Rs 500 fine for the first offense and Rs 1,000 will be for subsequent ones. There is also a proposal to impose Rs 5,000 penalty on vehicles owners for installing multi-toned and air horns in the motor vehicle. The fines could be much higher at Rs 1 lakh in case of dealers and owners of garages who install such horns.
These proposals are likely to be included in amendments to the Central Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, which the road transport ministry plans to introduce during the monsoon session of Parliament.
A group of state transport ministers has already accepted the adoption of `Rules for Road Regulations’, which broadly deals with “use of horns”. While the rules mention that the driver of a motor vehicle may request for overtaking with a short horn or headlight flasher signal, they specify when they shall not use the horn. Honking in residential areas or in `silence zones’ will be prohibited. The rules prohibit the use of any multi-toned air horn giving a harsh, shrill, loud or alarming sound.
