Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, allows noise range for horns between 93 decibel and 112 decibel.
| Photo Credit: S. Siva Saravanan

After a lull, use of high decibel air horns has become rampant among private buses and goods carriers in Coimbatore. Though the police claim that periodic vehicle checks are conducted to curb their use, many private buses, especially omni buses, are found to be using them.

The private bus operators allege that the State-run buses are also involved in violations.

A police officer said private bus operators were occasionally reminded to not use air horns, which caused noise pollution and distraction to other motorists.

The permitted noise range for horns was between 93 decibel and 112 decibel as per the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, the official said. Lack of decibel meters, a device required to check noise level of horns, was another hurdle for the police and Transport Department.

Decibel meter, which is used by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) is held at a distance of 7.5 metres from the horn, at a height of 0.5 to 1.5 metres, to check the noise level.

Consumer rights activist K. Kathirmathiyon said consumer organisations raised the issue of air horns on city roads with the Transport Department officials at a meeting with Regional Transport Officers (RTO) held in March.

“Vehicle owners should be booked or fined if they are found using air horns, instead of merely seizing them. As no such action is being taken, there is no deterrent effect. After the issue was highlighted, the Department agreed to conduct joint drives with TNPCB,” he said.

City Police Commissioner A. Saravana Sundar said the police would carry out surprise vehicle checks to curb use of air horns.