Mumbaikars honour World Health Day with "NO Honking Day"

With the first of its kind and unique as well, Mumbaikars decided to observe Monday as “No Honking Day” with desperate attempt to spread awareness of noise pollution and its ill impact on human health. “The Day” is significant too, as the people globally are observing “World Health Day” today on April 07.

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The traffic police in Maharashtra with assistance of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), automobile associations, and school and college students took initiative in creating awareness among people comprising over 1.5 million motor drivers through the campaign. This is the second commendable programme that has been taken by the Mumbai traffic police after his successful move against drunken driving last year.

Punitive action will be taken against those found violating the cause by pressing the horn unnecessarily. The successful operation of the day would not only help in lowering the decibel level, but also educate people about the dangers of noise pollution at the time when the world is facing threat of global warming that has been swiftly damaging the environment across the globe.

In order to make people aware of the day and its significant purpose, various awareness tools have been taken in hand, in advance, across the city like hoardings, banners, posters, and stickers carrying message about the campaign so that majority of motorists could desist from honking today. Besides, the popular and mass reaching tool-FM radio have been taken for such purpose to promote the message.

According to law, honking unnecessarily at intersections, use of pressure horns, using horns in silence zones like hospitals, educational institutions and vehicles with non-functional silencers all demand prosecution with fines for such offence ranges between Rs 1000 and Rs 600.

Star of the millennium Amitabh Bachchan made an unusual appearance on Saturday when he reached Mehboob studio with his car affixed with sparkling sticker highlighting “NO Honking Day” on Monday to facilitate the occasion proposed by Mumbai traffic police.

To spread awareness about the noise pollution caused by honking, the Delhi traffic police had started a similar initiative in 2002 and boards were erected at all intersections with “no-honking” message.

After Mumbai, whether Delhi Police observes such a Day or not, but the delhiites as a responsible citizen should take initiatives at its own and obey such rules not for a day, but for always. Authority can’t help more, if public do not support such a cause. We must need to understand that obeying traffic rules helps and saves our life and not others. So people should think and remember his family before stepping out of home for driving each day.