Drive soon against vehicles using illegal horns

The government is going to conduct a stringent drive against vehicles using illegal horns of more than approved decibel to contain sound pollution across the country, officials said.
The sound pollution in and outside the capital city has reached an alarming level over the years, increasing various health problems among the citizens, particularly the children.
The Roads Division under the Ministry of Communication has taken an initiative to stop import of horns over 70 decibels, a ministry official said.
It has recently sent a letter to the Ministry of Commerce secretary, requesting him to take necessary actions according to the existing law, after getting opinion from the Ministry of Environment.
"Every motor vehicle shall be fitted with a horn or other approved device available for immediate use by the driver of the vehicle and capable of giving audible and sufficient warning of the approach position of the vehicle," according to the Bengal motor vehicles Rules.
"No motor vehicle shall be fitted with any multi-toned horn giving a succession of different notes or with any other sound-producing device giving an unduly harsh, shrill, loud of alarming noise," it also mentioned.
It is mandatory to fix approved horn in vehicles according to the existing law. But about 97 per cent of the vehicles in the country are not obeying the volume standards, sources said.
The proposed drive will be conducted in the capital soon, and then gradually in other urban areas throughout the country. During the drive, horns, exceeding the standard, will be removed from vehicles, and import of such horns will be prohibited.
Besides, the authorities concerned will take legal actions against the vehicles that will use horns, exceeding the stipulated decibel, they added.