For the aggressive driver, the horn can prove to be a powerful ally, but it can also annoy the snot out of everybody around them. In Mumbai, India, the noise pollution emanating from the auto-sax is so bad, the heavily populated city decided to have a no-honking day. Here in the States we have a special "day" just about every day of the year, but seldom do we mobilize 2,000 volunteers to ensure the occasion is honored. Mumbai did just that, as the un-paid help toted signs reminding the city of 1.5 million to keep their hands off the horn. While volunteers put the clamps down on every day horns, the fuzz get involved if someone had a tricked-out aftermarket honk. To prove a point about noise pollution and physical and mental well-being, the folks over in Mumbai also celebrated World Health Day. We can't see how being stuck in traffic with Tatas, bicycles, cows, and elephants and not being able to release stress by honking can be good for anyone.
[Source: The CarConnection]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
stealth @ Apr 9th 2008 7:12AM
w00t!
Mehul @ Apr 9th 2008 7:31AM
They really needed it. I say they should just ban the use of horn unless extremely necessary.
Allen @ Apr 9th 2008 8:34AM
a hundred bucks to whoever can find waldo
Gregg @ Apr 9th 2008 9:17AM
The cacophany of sound in Indian traffic whether in Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, where have you, is unbelievable at first exposure. It appears that pressing on the horn almost constantly is either a rule or an ingrained habit, but it is hard to see how it is helpful most of the time. But it is part of the Indian experience. I think they would have to have a horn honking day here and there for old time's sake, if they were successful in curbing some of the noise.
David @ Apr 9th 2008 9:26AM
I heard this story on NPR the other day. Apparently the average background noise in Mumbai is around 90dB due in large part to horn blowing. From the interviews it sounded like people use the horn about as frequently as they use their brakes (yuck)!
Shoeb Khan @ Apr 9th 2008 9:41AM
The population if Mumbai is closer to 15 million. than 1.5! it is the most populated city in India and essentially like new york, but even better! Not only is it the financial capital of India, with the Stock Exchange, it is also home to 'Bollywood' (but you wont find a monstrous sign on a hill top)
Roger Rodrigues @ Apr 9th 2008 9:58AM
They have traffic rules but nobody obeys the rules. The cops wait for bribes.
Zane @ Apr 9th 2008 10:14AM
Better than the Big Apple? Going a little too far, eh? The NYC metro is home to 20M people and Wall St. is a bigger name than Exchange Square and Nihonbashi combined. Bollywood might be the biggest entertainment industry in the world but last I checked, less than 5% of the movies are actually shot or filmed *in* Bombay. Get your facts right mate.
Trideep Gogoi @ Apr 9th 2008 3:15PM
I think he meant that Mumbai's Position in India is better than NY's position in the US. In the US NY competes with LA, Chicago etc etc etc. In India Mumbai holds the crown to being most populated, most expensive, most rich, Financial, Art, food, entertainment, movies and broadway capital of india all rolled into one. So Yes we do know that NY is great But me as a Native Californian think that Ny is just about the most overrated city in the world and unless you like watching gay shows on broadway or easily get entertained by big screens on times square I take my Little San Francisco, LA and San Jose and stay away thankyou.
don.newlon @ Apr 9th 2008 10:24AM
I don't see this working. I'm an American living in Hong Kong and I travel to India frequently. Because the traffic really doesn't observe lanes (and lane markings are often missing anyway) the horn is used a rich form of communication that westerners don't typically understand. The style of the beep means everything from "Pardon me" to "Please be careful - I'm in your blind spot" to "Coming through!" to "Hey you flipping idiot, I'm on the edge of vehicular homicide." In India you cannot drive without the horn. It's a required driving aid.
lojock @ Apr 9th 2008 10:38AM
I am guessing that "Honk if your are horny" bumper stickers are not a big mover in Mumbai.
Chris Ice @ Apr 9th 2008 10:46AM
Agreed that the intent of the article is a bit misleading...honking in India is not an outlet for aggression...it's part of driving. We use turnsignals (mostly) and mirrors, they use the horn and that's it.
I do agree tho, having spent nearly 2hrs getting from one side of Mumbai to the other (not uncommon), the peace once inside the airport really emphasized how much "on the edge" your nerves become after being subjected to near constant "toot-tooting" for that period of time.
Avinash machado @ Apr 9th 2008 11:16AM
So this is what taking the bull by the horn means.
notYou @ Apr 9th 2008 11:30AM
Maybe if they put as many resources into that gridlock people wouldn't need to honk as much thereby improving noise pollution (I love how sound is essentially a disease vs. silence, go figure) and that would address the physical and mental well being part. Geez, then maybe we could do away with nonsense like World Health Day (are the other 364 World Death Days?).
IamZardoz @ Apr 9th 2008 11:46AM
Having lived in that city for a few years and knowing its a city where only about half the population of 18 million has access to a toilet, honking horns is the least of their worries.
Jeff @ Apr 9th 2008 2:26PM
hate to nitpick, but Mumbai is one of the biggest cities in the world at close to 15million, not 1.5.
What would be really cool would be if everybody just realized how much nicer it is without the horns. I guess we'll find out tomorrow!
Bajan @ Apr 9th 2008 4:20PM
In Barbados (Carribean for those that dont know) you honk to acknowledge people that give you way. So a Honk really has different meaning and connotations in each nation in this world. In America it is considered offensive because Americans are always on the offensive (just keeding) :-)
yedkar @ Apr 9th 2008 11:06PM
its 15 million, not 1.5.
clueless bastards.
Zane @ Apr 11th 2008 2:39PM
You just lost all credibility by mentioning "San Jose".