Mumbai’s Enduring Noise Crisis: Drivers Opt for Louder Horns Amid Health Concerns
Mumbai’s Enduring Noise Crisis: Drivers Opt for Louder Horns Amid Health Concerns
MUMBAI, India — The cacophony on Mumbai’s roads, a constant companion to the city’s humidity, is intensifying as drivers increasingly switch to more powerful and louder horns. This shift exacerbates an already severe noise pollution problem, raising significant public health concerns among residents and traffic officials alike.
Drivers in India’s bustling megacity are notorious for their frequent horn usage, signaling for everything from clearing traffic to expressing frustration. A recent informal survey at a Mumbai intersection recorded 27 honks in just one minute during an afternoon, a number traffic constable Vikas Rahane considers ‘normal’ but anticipates will only rise during peak hours.
The relentless noise, often exceeding 80 decibels—comparable to constant exposure to a vacuum cleaner and well above the World Health Organization’s recommended 55-decibel limit—is taking a toll. Traffic police report sleep disturbances and even hearing loss among colleagues. Despite laws allowing fines for excessive honking, enforcement remains a low priority amidst the city’s chaotic traffic management challenges.
Sumaira Abdulali, founder of the Awaaz Foundation, highlights a cultural belief that honking is essential to navigate traffic, ironically leading to a cycle where more honking fails to improve flow. This persistent vehicle noise combines with sounds from continuous construction, pushing city sound levels to those of a rock concert.
The demand for louder horns, particularly the ‘pom pom’ air-pressure variety, has surged. Shopkeepers at suburban Mumbai’s CST Road marketplace report a significant increase in sales, with drivers opting for horns that can reach up to 120 decibels. Many believe these louder horns are necessary to be heard over the city’s din, with some even seeking out specific vehicle models known for their powerful horns, like the Hyundai Creta.
Vehicle manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, acknowledge India’s unique horn usage culture, adapting their horns for enhanced durability. However, this trend towards louder horns has not translated into improved road safety; India continues to report over 150,000 road fatalities annually.
Environmentalists like Abdulali advocate for stricter law enforcement and a greater emphasis on civic sense to combat the noise crisis, dismissing past proposals like replacing horns with classical instrument sounds as impractical. As Mumbai’s volume continues to rise, the urgent need to address this public health issue becomes ever clearer.
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