Patna High Court orders crackdown on pressure horns to cut accidents

The Patna High Court expressed serious concern over the proliferation of pressure horns on roads, noting their direct contribution to traffic accidents and widespread public inconvenience. The court emphasized that the indiscriminate use of such horns compromises road safety and degrades quality of life in urban and semi-urban areas.

In response to the petition, the bench directed state police officials to enforce existing traffic regulations more stringently. Police have been instructed to issue challans (fines) to violators under Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which prohibits the use of horns that produce excessive noise.

The Motor Vehicles Act prescribes penalties for drivers who use pressure horns or non-standard horns that exceed prescribed decibel limits. The court's order aims to regularize enforcement of these provisions, which often remain dormant despite widespread violations.

Noise pollution from vehicular traffic remains a significant public health concern across Indian cities. The intervention reflects growing judicial attention to environmental and safety issues arising from unregulated horn usage on crowded roads.