After the No Horn Monday initiative made some noise in the city, a similar citizen initiative, I Won’t Honk campaign, was launched by former cricketer Rahul Dravid and Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) M.A. Saleem here on Tuesday.
Batting to bring about a change in the city’s honking habits, Mr. Dravid said: “Every single individual can pledge to avoid honking and to drive defensively, carefully and with discipline… and recognise that they want to live in a better city,” he said.
The ace cricketer, who said he enjoyed driving, pointed out that the city had changed drastically from 1980s, “In many ways, it is a great change, but it also poses a lot of challenges.”
Stressing that the police could not outlaw honking, Mr. Saleem, spoke on the ills of honking. “In other countries, honking is considered uncivilised, but in the Indian context, a cultural milieu is attached to it,” he said.
Most of the congested areas in the city such as the Kempegowda bus stand, M.G. Road, Marathahalli Junction had recorded noise levels of over 100 decibels whereas the permissible noise level in commercial areas is 65 decibels. Corporates, including car firms, are taking part in the campaign. Those who want to pledge can sign up on the website www.iwonthonk.com or give a missed call to 080 3008 8638.
