Needless honking by motorists, auto-rickshaws troubles residents

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, July 23

Unnecessary honking by vehicles on roads has become a common sight which is immensely contributing to noise pollution. Even the youth of the can be found to have modified the silencers of their Bullet bikes with impunity while traffic cops fail to take any strict action.

Offenders are openly violating the Motor Vehicles norms. Producing a bursting sound from bullet not only creates panic among commuters but it also causes unbearable noise pollution. For producing a high-decibel sound, the youth alter the silencer, which is an offence under the Motor Vehicles Act.

Meanwhile, residents have also complained that apart from honking unnecessarily even if there is no traffic on roads, many youngsters have got different sound horns (sounds like child crying, ambulance horns, etc) installed in their bikes and as they pass any other vehicle. They deliberately honk to trouble other commuters.

According to a traffic police official, originally the bikes have a stock silence with three filters in it, which produces a low sound. However, buyers alter the silencer, especially to produce a loud sound. However, as per the Central Motor Vehicles Rules and the Motor Vehicles Act, silencer blast is an offence. Youth create the silencer blast by switching the engine off when the motorcycle is at a high speed, this way a firecracker-like sound or that of a firing bullet is generated by the engine.

ACP Traffic Harvinder Singh said “The traffic police is challaning the motorists who are found honking unnecessarily.”