Crackdown on pressure horns: 68 fined on Day 1

MEERUT: Meerut traffic police on Wednesday started a driveagainst the use of pressure horns in vehicles. Officials said the campaign began on the instructions of SP traffic Kiran Yadav and on the first day, pressure horns from 68 vehicles, including buses, trucks, cars and motorcycles, were removed and the owners of these vehicles were fined.
“Several people use pressure horns and hooters, which can damage one’s ears.Hence, we have started this drive which will go on for at least a week until most of the defaulters are penalised,” SP traffic Kiran Yadav said.
On Wednesday, 30 buses, 34 trucks, one car and three motorcycles were caught with pressure horns. The drive was carried out on some of the major crossings of the city such as Begampul crossing, Tejgarhi crossing, Jail Chungi crossing and Bachcha Park.
“While pressure horns were removed from all 68 vehicles, some were slapped a fine of Rs 1,000, while others were issued a challan. In some cases, the license of UPSRTC bus drivers were suspended,” added Yadav.
According to the motor vehicle rules, two-wheelers should not use horns emitting more than 80 decibels. For cars, the limit is 82 decibels, light goods vehicles and auto-rickshaws 85 decibels and lorries and buses 91 decibels. Use of horns in silence zones, near hospitals and schools and at signalled junctions, is not allowed. The violation attracts a fine up to Rs 1,000.
“The drive is set to go on for at least a week to catch the defaulters. A majority of these defaulters are truck drivers and we will ensure that within a week we remove pressure horns from as many vehicles as possible,” said traffic sub-inspector Santosh Kumar.
Meanwhile, drivers gave bizarre excuses for using pressure horns. Bhuvan Kumar, a truck driver, said, “I have to commute on long routes even at night and pressure horn helps me distinguish between small and big vehicles.”