Hyderabad police crack down on noise-happy two wheeler riders

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad city police is on a drive against vehicular noise pollution, during which personnel destroyed dozens of modified exhaust silencers and seized two-wheelers in the last few weeks.

The police steam-rolled some of the seized silencers at an event here on Tuesday.

"The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines noise above 65 decibels (dB) as noise pollution. Noise becomes harmful when it exceeds 75 dB and is painful above 120 dB. It is recommended noise levels be kept below 65 dB during the day," said Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar.

He said that the sound emitted by vehicles was the cause for most of the noise pollution in the city. "A car horn produces 90 dB and a bus produces 100 dB. Noise pollution is associated with high blood pressure and the long-term impact may lead to hospitalization and rare chances of death,” Anjani Kumar said.

He cited a study which said traffic noise was associated with cardiovascular defects in all adults and the elderly. “It shows that long-term exposure to road traffic noise increases the risk of death and the risk of cardiovascular disease," the police commissioner said.

Anjani Kumar said that under the Motor Vehicle (MV) Act, any person that drives a noisy vehicle will be penalised Rs 1,000 for the first offence and Rs 2,000 subsequently. He asked dealers of spare parts and mechanics not to violate laws by fitting multi-toned horns or modifying the silencer.

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Number of noise pollution cases booked by Hyderabad traffic police increase.

2019: 4,866

2020: 2,163

2021*: 12,938

*Up to Sept. 30