Drive against sound pollution caused by air horns in buses

Notices issued to vehicles using horns in violation of rules

Officials of the Regional Transport Offices in Krishnagiri and Hosur have intensified the checking of air horns in private and government-owned TNSTC buses that are causing sound pollution in the district, said P. Suresh, Regional Transport Officer.

He told The Hindu that the Motor Vehicle Inspectors attached to the respective RTO offices had been directed to check sound pollution which affects the public in the bus stand and other places where large numbers of vehicles are plying.

The surprise crackdown on violating vehicles is conducted at regular intervals at important points, following the directions of the Transport Commissioner along with the officials of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPSC).

The air horns fitted in heavy and light vehicles should not produce sound above 91 decibels, said S. Dhanapal, Senior Scientist, TNPSC. The sound level of the air horns is measured by the authorities with the help of the hand-held ‘Sound Level Meter’.

Notices were issued to the violating vehicles and the list of violating vehicles would be sent to the District Collector for fixing the fine.

In case of other State vehicles, a spot fine of Rs. 1,000 would be collected from the driver of the vehicle.

If the violating vehicle belonged to other districts, the check reports would be sent to the Collectors concerned through the RTOs for fixing the fine, the officials said.

The cone-type air horns would be removed by the authorities besides damaging the horn lever near the steering of the buses. This would be done to prevent repetition of violation by the same vehicle.

RTO authorities said that as many as 346 buses and heavy vehicles were issued notices for violating sound pollution norms by using air horns. Of these, 90 are government vehicles under the jurisdiction of Krishnagiri and Hosur RTO offices. This year about 103 vehicles including 39 government vehicles were issued notices.

As part of the Road Safety Week conducted during the first week of January (1 to 7) several programmes including awareness rally on road safety, eye camps for lorry drivers, oratorical competitions for school and college students, and first aid camps through live demonstration to the Home Guards at the Krishnagiri RTO offices were held. As part of the Road Safety Week, twenty-one drivers from the TNSTC were given awards by District Collector T.P. Rajesh at the valedictory functions held at a private school in Krishnagiri on January 7.

The students participated in the oratorical competitions were also given prizes by the Collector, an official said.