Make Chandigarh Honk Free

#MakeChandigarhHonkFree campaign was launched on 1.1.2018 and still continuing. The objective of this campaign is to make Chandigarh beautiful not just for eyes but for ears as well.

This campaign is addressing the following Road safety aspects:

• Not blowing horn unnecessarily
• Lane driving
• Right of Way
• Not using pressure horns
• Not altering silencer especially of motorcycles
• Not overspeeding
• Respecting the rights of pedestrians and cyclists

More than 50,000 “I Will Not Honk” stickers have been distributed amongst general public. Chandigarh Traffic Police is running ads and appeals in leading newspapers, FM Radios, Multiplexes, bulk SMSs. Chandigarh Traffic Police is also making aware the drivers of Ola, Uber and other taxi unions regarding this campaign. Awareness in various Schools & Colleges, public places, etc. Celebration of “World Environment Day” as ‘No Honk Day’.Chandigarh Traffic Police is also tapping various organizations i.e. Truck Union, State Carriage, Auto Rickshaw Union, Ola, Uber, Vehicle Dealerships in Tri-city, RWAs/MWAs/Bar Association/ DSOI/Senior Citizens Forum, IT firms, Schools & Colleges, Parking Contractors, and Petrol Pump, etc. Chandigarh Traffic Police is also in participation with 94.3 MY FM, 93.5 Red FM, IMA Chandigarh, HDFC Bank, Chandigarh Rotary Club and Royal Enfield for promotion of this campaign. As part of this campaign, “No Honking” sign boards have been installed in the premises of three medical institutions i.e. GMSH-16, GMCH-32 and PGIMER, Sector 12, Chandigarh as well as in the High Court Complex. Accordingly, Chandigarh Traffic Police has started traffic enforcement against motor vehicles which blow horn unnecessarily in silent zones in the city. During this campaign, 700 challans have been issued against this violation.

Law on Use of Horns

What does the Law say? 'No driver of a motor vehicle shall blow hooter/siren in the entire area of the Union Territory, Chandigarh, while driving the vehicle except on ambulances, fire brigade vehicles and Chandigarh Police vehicles.

Rule 178(3) Chandigarh Motor Vehicle Rules 1990

Every motor vehicle manufactured shall be fitted with an electric horn or other devices (conforming to the requirements of ISI: 1884-1992 specified by the bureau of Indian standards) for use by the driver of the vehicle and capable of giving audible and sufficient warning of the approach or position of the vehicle.

Rule 119(1), The Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989

Note: Not having a functional horn would be violative of the above-mentioned rule and would thus be an offence.

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 or alarming noise.

Vehicles used as ambulance or for fire fighting purpose or salvage purpose or vehicles used by police officers or officers of the motor vehicles department in the course of their duties or on construction equipment vehicles, may use such sound signals as may be approved by the registering authority in whose jurisdiction such vehicles are kept.

Rule 119(2) (3), The Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989

A driver of a vehicle shall not

• Sound the horn needlessly or continuously or more than necessary to ensure safety;
• Sound the horn in silence zones;
• Fit or use any multi-toned horn giving a harsh, shrill, loud or alarming noise;

Regulation 21(i) (ii) (iv) the Rules of the Road Regulations, 1989 No driver of a motor vehicle shall sound the horn or other device for giving audible warning with which the motor vehicle is equipped or shall cause or allow any other person to do so continuously or to an extent beyond what is necessary to ensure safety. Rule 170 (1), Haryana Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993 Rule 178 (1), Chandigarh Motor Vehicles Rules, 1990 No vehicle shall be permitted to have a musical horn. All vehicles, buses, trucks and cars shall not be fitted with power, pressure or musical horns. Such vehicles with any such horns shall be challaned and such horns shall be got removed by the enforcement officer so authorized to challan the vehicle, under his supervision. Rule 114a (iii) (vii), the Haryana Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993

Use of horns and silence zones

Section 194 F MV Act 2019(as amended) and Rule 23 MVDR 2017

• 1.) unnecessary use of horn is prohibited.
• 2.) As far as may be, the horn shall be sounded only when the driver apprehends danger to himself or to any other road user.
• 3.) The driver shall sound the horn when directed by the mandatory sign.
• 4.) The driver shall not
  •    a.) Sound the horn continuously or repeatedly or for duration longer than necessary or in a residential areas or in a silence zone indicated by a mandatory sign.
  •    b.) Make use of a cut-out by which exhaust gases are released other than through the silencer.
  •    c.) Fit or use an air horn or a multi-toned horn giving a harsh, shrill, loud or alarming noise except as provided in sub-rule (3) of rule 119 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules,1989 and
  •    d.) Drive a vehicle which creates undue noise or causes an alarming sound when in motion.

As per Rule 119 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989:

1. On and after expiry of one year from the date of commencement of the Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 1999, [every motor vehicle, agricultural tractor, power tiller and construction equipment vehicle] manufactured shall be fitted with an electric horn or other devices conforming to the requirements of IS: 1884—1992, specified by the Bureau of Indian Standards] for use by the driver of the vehicle and capable of giving audible and sufficient warning of the approach or position of the vehicle: [Provided that on and from 1st January, 2003, the [horn installation requirements for motor vehicle] shall be as per 311[AIS-014] specifications, as may be amended from time to time, till such time as corresponding Bureau of Indian Standards specifications are notified.]

2. No [motor vehicle including agricultural tractor] 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 or alarming noise.

3. Nothing contained in sub-rule (2) shall prevent the use on vehicles used as ambulance or for fire fighting or salvage purposes or on vehicles [used by police officers or operators of construction equipment vehicles or officers of the Motor Vehicles Department] [in the course or their duties or on construction equipment vehicles,] of such sound signals as may be approved by the registering authority in whose jurisdiction such vehicles are kept.

Removal & confiscation

As per the directions of the Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court in CWP no.7639 of 1995 - Namit Kumar versus Chandigarh Administration and others, the pressure horn or the musical/multi-toned horn of the vehicle shall be confiscated by the enforcement officer at the time of challan. The fact of the confiscation should be mentioned on the challan form and the confiscated horn should be duly deposited with the police station having jurisdiction, with appropriate details being recorded in the station diary. The horn should be released only on receipt of superdari orders issued by courts having jurisdiction.

Horn Prohibited

The regional transport authority may, by notification published in the official gazette or in one or more newspaper in circulation in the area and by the erection of suitably placed traffic sign no. M18 as set forth in the part of the first schedule to the MVA'88, prohibit the use by drivers of motor vehicles of any horn or any other device for giving audible warning in any area during such hours as may be specified by him in the notification:

Provided that when the regional transport authority prohibits the use of any horning or other device for giving audible warning during certain specified hours, he shall cause a suitable notice, in English and Hindi languages to be affixed below the traffic sign setting forth the hours within which such use is prohibited.

Rule 170(2), Haryana Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993

The district magistrate may, by notification published in the official gazette or in one or more newspapers in circulation in the area and by the erection of suitably placed traffic sign no. 7 as set forth in the fifth schedule to the act (MVA'88), prohibit the use by drivers of motor vehicles of any horn or any other device for giving audible warning in any area during such hours as may be specified by him in the notification: Provided that when the District Magistrate prohibits the use of any horning or other device for giving audible warning during certain specified hours, he shall cause a suitable notice, in English and Hindi languages to be affixed below the traffic sign setting forth the hours within which such use is prohibited.

Rule 178 (2), Chandigarh Motor Vehicles Rules, 1990

Note: the sounding of horns is generally prohibited in the vicinity of hospitals, courts and educational institutions.

Compulsory sound horn

The approaching motorists get the indication to 'compulsorily sound the horns' of their vehicles by the erection of a suitably placed mandatory traffic sign, which is specified at serial no.m35 of part a of schedule i to the motor vehicles act 1988. The traffic sign is shown below:

Note: the traffic sign for 'compulsory sounding of horns' is generally used on hill roads that involve extremely sharp, often blind turns.

Section 190 (2), MC Act ‘88’ The blowing of pressure horns/musical horns or the sounding of horns in zones declared as silence zones (by the competent authority) may not only be an offence under MVA'88, but also be in violation of the noise pollution (regulation and control) rules, 2000 and be punishable under section 39, Air Pollution Control Act, 1981.