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A few days back, I was driving to meet a client. As I waited at a traffic signal with a 90-second timer, a car behind me started honking incessantly. I gestured to the driver, asking what the urgency was. He didn’t reply but eventually stopped honking.
On another occasion, while waiting at a traffic signal, a bike behind me began honking repeatedly. When I gestured to the rider, he told me to break the red light and go. I asked why I should do that, and he said the honking was meant for the vehicle in front of me. But there was no one there.
One morning, at exactly 5:50 AM, I was out for a walk. The streets were almost empty, with just a few people around. Suddenly, a biker sped past, blaring his horn as if his job was to wake up the entire neighborhood.
These incidents are clear examples of noise pollution.
But why do such incidents keep happening? Why are people okay with this?
One thing is clear: noise pollution isn’t as “sexy” as air pollution. We can see and breathe air pollution, but noise pollution is just noise. This made me think. Noise pollution is caused by many factors that we humans have rationalized as acceptable and have started living with.
Causes and Effects of Noise Pollution
The most obvious and easiest to tackle is noise from vehicles. Imagine a world where no vehicle has a horn. It would be a different experience altogether. If someone causes an accident, there could be an instant penalty of, say, Rs. 100,000. Pay it on the spot or leave the vehicle.
Would having no horns on bikes, cars, and trucks make us more aware and vigilant? Would there be fewer accidents? Would our cities be quieter?
We need to think about it.
Noise pollution is making us all irritable and stressed. For instance, while watching a cricket game on TV, the minimum volume needed could be reduced if the streets were quieter. We also see fewer small birds like sparrows (chidiya) every day, possibly due to the constant noise.
Solutions to Noise Pollution
- Traffic Management: Implement stricter traffic regulations to reduce honking and promote smoother traffic flow.
- Urban Planning: Design cities with noise barriers and green spaces to absorb sound.
- Public Awareness: Educate the public about the harmful effects of noise pollution and encourage quieter behavior.
- Technological Innovations: Develop and use quieter machinery and vehicles.
- Legislation: Enforce laws that limit noise levels in residential areas, especially during nighttime.
Noise pollution is an invisible threat that affects our health and well-being. It’s time we take it seriously and make conscious efforts to reduce it. By doing so, we can create a more peaceful and healthier environment for ourselves and future generations.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.