‘Don’t honk’ campaign in Madurai

Even though the permissible noise levels in the city is only up to 65 decibels, a survey revealed the levels at Teppakulam to be 73.3 dB and the areas near Periyar Bus Stand recorded an alarming 90 dB. And this was way back in the year 2000.

Given the exponential increase in the number of vehicles hitting the roads every year, the levels are sure to have even escalated higher causing considerable noise pollution.

With the objective of safeguarding the public from the damage caused to the ears by excessive honking, Top Kids Youth/Kids Guidance and Counselling Centre organised the ‘Don’t Honk’ Challenge – 2012 here on Sunday.

The event, explained the centre founder Dheep, entails participants driving through a fixed route in the city without using the horns at all. The rally was being held to show that one can drive without honking using the horns.

Deputy Commissioner of Police R. Thirunavukarasu, who flagged off the rally, said that the police drivers in the city have also now been advised to cut down on the use of horns.

Explaining the rules of the event, Dr. Dheep said that it was more of a challenge to the driver than a race in which coming first was more important. All participants, he said, must adhere to the rules with licences mandatory. Helmets and seat belts were also a must for the two wheeler riders and four wheeler drivers respectively.

Speaking earlier, Vijay Bhaskar, District Environmental Engineer, Virudhunagar, said that under the Environment Protection Act, noise standards had been fixed for all vehicles and equipment as well. Air horns, which were widely adopted in buses, were now banned and the use of cone speakers were also now almost eradicated, thanks to the efforts of the police.

V. Raja, Additional Commissioner (Labour), spoke. A total of 51 bikes and 16 cars took part in the event.