The Killer Pressure Horns”

A horn is a sound-making device that can be equipped to motor vehicles. In 1906, Miller Hutchison, a US-based inventor also known as the Right-Hand of Thomas Alva Edison patented the Klaxon horn for alerting pedestrians and other drivers to avoid collisions. He invented the horn for necessity but today the same horn has become the biggest weapon of sound violence.

According to the WHO, the horns of vehicles should be up to 45 decibels at night and 55 decibels at night. Playing horns at night has been forbidden in London and Paris since 1930. In Germany rules for honking were made in 1936. In South America, Peru, strict rules for playing the horn without being required were made in 2009. For violating the rules, the car is forfeited in addition to the cancellation of the license there.

In India the laxity of following the rules is that the horns in many vehicles range from 60 to 100 decibels. Musical pressure horns can be extremely dangerous.

Noise from pressure horns has a severe impact on human health not only physically but psychologically as well. The frequent exposure to pressure horns can cause hearing disabilities or permanent damage to tympanic membrane (ear drum). Exposure to high decibels of sound for prolonged time causes adverse impact on health. According to the Indian Medical Association, human ears can withstand sounds up to 60 decibels. If you are experiencing noise of more than 80 decibels for 6 to 8 hours 5 days a week, then you can also become deaf. Apart from this, you can be a victim of mental illnesses.

Loud noise of Musical pressure horn is a source of irritation and restlessness especially for senior citizens and patients. It can also cause stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, increased heart rate and hypertension.

Musical pressure horns can cause hearing loss in babies. A baby’s inner ears can be damaged if he or she is around extremely loud noises such as that of a Musical pressure horn. This is called noise-induced hearing loss. Noise that is more than 85 decibels can cause hearing loss. Loud noises of a Musical pressure horn can damage the hair cells in the inner ear and the hearing nerve. This is called sensorineural hearing loss or nerve deafness. It may be permanent or temporary. Once the hearing nerve is damaged, it is permanent. Permanent hearing loss is the most serious complication of noise-induced hearing loss.

The law in India - “The Motor Vehicle Act 1988 does not allow use of siren or Pressure horn on any vehicle, except Ambulance, Fire Brigade and Police. “Use of siren or pressure horns violates the standards prescribed in relation to control of noise. This offence is punishable under Section 190 (2) of MV Act”. According to section 190(2) of the amended MV Act, causing air and noise pollution can now attract a fine of up to ₹10,000.
The Supreme Court of India, in its judgement December 10, 2013, on the petition SLP (Civil) 25237/2010, has banned the pressure / musical / multi-sound horns in vehicles. The last date for removal was January 10, 2014.

The Central Pollution Control Board had put a ban on manufacturing of high decibel horns so that vehicles should not be fitted with power, pressure or musical horns, giving a sharp, shrill and alarming noise. Vehicles found with such horns would be challaned and horns would be confiscated.

In 2017, CPCB banned pressure, multi-toned (air) and musical vehicle horns. Two years later, the Motor Vehicle Act was also amended and as per Section 190 (2) of the amended Act, causing air and noise pollution can attract a fine of up to Rs 10,000, instead of the Rs 1,000 penalty mandated by the old Act (1988). According to the new provisions added to the Motor Vehicle Act in 2019, it is illegal to install a separate pressure horn in any vehicle.


In October, 2019 Delhi high Court also directed the Police to take action against vehicles which have pressure horns and also to forfeit such accessories.

On ground situation:
Despite having been banned by the Supreme court, Owing to lack of enforcement, multi-toned pressure horns are readily available in the market. They are being imported, manufactured and openly sold and fitted in the auto markets.

Multi-tone musical pressure horns on motor vehicles have increasingly become a major source of noise pollution and road nuisance in the country. The pressure horns produce noise even above 100 decibels against the prescribed limit of 55 decibels, thus adversely affecting the health of citizens, especially women, children.

Despite the ban on the import, manufacture, sale, purchase and fitting of pressure, multi-toned and musical vehicle horns, transporters, including truck and bus owners, continue to flout the rules all over India and continue to trouble everyone. Caring two hoots about the norms, many private buses and trucks continue to use pressure horns to make their presence felt on the roads even in the presence of traffic police personnel.

As it appears that machinery of state to curb such noise pollution has been playing mostly the role of a mute spectator, the intervention of court is the last option to tackle this environmental menace. The district transport office and the traffic police have failed to enforce ban orders on the use of pressure horns, especially in the vicinity of residences, schools, hospitals and on highways.

Now even after so many years after the ban came into effect, with no concern for the plight of hapless humans around, Trucks, Private buses with pressure horns continue to create havoc on city roads and state highways. Pressure horns are also used rampantly by speeding buses, trucks and cars for show of power on the road. Pressure horns are used by restless drivers to get their path clear and hence they are the root cause of road-rage incidents. Pressure horns can divert the attention of motorists, especially senior citizens leading to serious accidents. There have been instances when cyclists got panicky and having lost their balance got crushed under the wheels of these buses and trucks. The pressure horns are used without bothering how the sound would scare a critically ill patient in the ambulance or a 3-month-old infant sitting on his mother’s lap on the scooter.

Lack of awareness- It is seen that there is also lack of awareness about the law on pressure horn among many officials in the government authorities. In one such incident the authorities on physical examination found pressure horns being carried in the vehicle of a authorised dealer of an auto product company of Coimbatore but mentioned as tractor parts in documents. The revisionist further submitted that the pressure horns were suitable for use in tractors and were being transported by them for the last many years. This dispute related only to pressure horns which according to the Authority are not used in tractors but are used in other vehicles like cars, three-wheelers etc. It seems the authorities were not aware that pressure horns are banned in India.

What authorities say - Traffic Police says that all kinds of air pressure horns, musical horns, reverse horns, hooters, trumpets and other devices that are fitted on vehicles, that produce an unduly harsh, loud or shrill or alarming noise, and the horns that are not fitted by the manufacturers should be removed.

A traffic police official on the condition of anonymity said, “A majority of heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses using pressure horns are owned either by politicians or persons having political connections. When we stop them, they make contact with some senior officials and we have to obey the orders. For proper implementation, we need clear directions in this regard from the seniors. Moreover, for a traffic policeman to remove the pressure horn from the offender’s vehicle is not very practical”

How to stop this menace

It is high time that the public authorities should take a knee jerk counter measure. It will require strict enforcement by law-and-order officials, apart from the support of citizens We urge the citizens to play a constructive role in eradicating this menace. It is appealed to the owners of heavy and light vehicles to stop using pressure horns in their vehicles as it causes a lot of noise pollution and trouble to all, especially to sick persons, old, infants, pregnant women and also leads to many fatal accidents.

In order to check noise pollution emanating from blaring pressure horns the government should direct the authorities to launch regular special state wide drives to ensure strict compliance of Motor vehicle Act and provisions of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution Act). In line with the government’s commitment for a healthy and noise free environment, it is imperative that noise pollution arising out of multi-tone pressure horns of vehicles which adversely affects the mental and physical wellbeing of citizens is checked. Traffic Police and pollution control board authorities must conduct special drives to enforce the provisions of Motor vehicle Act and Clause 31 of Air Act 1981 which prohibits the use of pressure horns.

The Clause 37 of the Air Act provides for imprisonment up to six years, in addition to heavy fines under motor vehicle Act. Complete ban on the import, manufacture, sale, purchase, possession, transport, fitting and use of multi-tone, pressure horns should be strictly enforced. The directions should be issued to the importers, manufacturers, dealers, traders, mechanics, shopkeepers and users including the government transport authorities regarding the matter.


Possession of Pressure horn should be treated like possession of illegal arms. Very strict action should be taken against the erring vehicles owners who were found violating rules should be heavily challaned and their vehicle should be impounded for at least 06 months. The factory manufacturing it or dealer selling it, if caught, their unit should be sealed for at least 06 months and people found importing it or fitting it should be jailed for 2 years.


The automobile makers must be taken to task. Vehicles too must be made in such a way that modifications to factory fitted horns and silencers can’t be made.

How can you identify chronic pain?

While the pain may be constant, there may be acute pain flare-ups as stress or activity levels increase. Among the signs and symptoms are:

• joint pain
• muscle aches
• burning pain
• fatigue
• sleep problems
• loss of stamina and flexibility, due to decreased activity
• mood problems, including depression, anxiety, and irritability