In the final week of July, three separate and violent incidents unfolded across Delhi. All of them, according to police sources, began the same way: with the sound of a car horn.
On 27 July, a group of seven to eight people allegedly attacked two men using beer bottles and stones in Sector 10, Dwarka. Just two days earlier, gunshots were fired near Ajmeri Gate in central Delhi. On that same day, another man was beaten up in Munirka, in the city’s southwest, as reported by TOI.
Each of these conflicts, police said, started over honking.
More noise, more fights
A growing number of people are being caught using pressure horns, and it’s not just an issue of sound. According to Delhi Police, there has been a 6 percent increase this year in cases involving pressure horns. Up to July, 1,651 challans were issued, compared to 1,560 during the same period last year. Violations involving honking in silence zones or unnecessary honking have also doubled from 28 last year to 57 this year.
Enforcement teams have been keeping a close watch on areas near schools and hospitals, which are officially marked as no-honking zones. Vehicles fitted with pressure horns or modified exhaust systems are being targeted for checks.
Under Section 194F of the Motor Vehicles Act, unnecessary or excessive honking, especially in restricted zones, is punishable by a fine of Rs 1,000 for the first offence and Rs 2,000 for subsequent violations. Vehicles with a cut-out in the exhaust, allowing them to bypass the silencer and increase noise, also fall foul of the law.
‘One of the main sources of noise pollution’
Dinesh Gupta, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said honking was far more than a minor inconvenience.
"The frequent use of pressure horns distracts other drivers on the road, scares people, especially the elderly and sick, and is one of the main sources of noise pollution," Gupta told TOI.
But the impact of honking isn’t just limited to hearing or distraction. There’s a deeper neurological toll, experts say.
Psychological impact of horn noise
For some, the sharp sound of a horn doesn’t just irritate, it disturbs on a level most people don’t notice.
"Some people suffer from conditions such as misophonia or hyperacusis. These individuals are already prone to heightened anxiety levels, and even a relatively minor auditory stimulus, like the sharp sound of a horn, can significantly disturb them," said Dr Rajiv Mehta, senior consultant psychiatrist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital told TOI.
"What might seem like an ordinary noise to most people can cause deep irritation, discomfort, even sudden outbursts of anger, in affected individuals. At the time they commit such an act, it's possible that anxiety is controlling their actions."
This might help explain some of the aggressive confrontations on the roads, he added.
A new form of insult
More than just an annoyance, honking is increasingly seen as a form of challenge or provocation — especially in the capital’s high-pressure traffic environment.
Experts say drivers use horns not to signal but to assert power. A short beep becomes a way to dominate. A long, continuous honk can be read as an insult.
Dr Rajat Mitra, forensic psychology professor, explains, "Honking has evolved into a form of insult in urban settings. Continuous honking is often perceived as a personal affront, which can trigger aggression and conflict."
He added that people who engage in excessive honking often show no concern about the consequences. “They use the horn to assert dominance and superiority over others. When someone dares to object or confront this behaviour, they are attacked and turn from bystanders to victims in an environment where aggression is both normalised and rarely held accountable.”
Despite legal penalties and police monitoring, the core issue isn’t enforcement. It’s the mindset. In a city where everyone is trying to move a little faster, many feel entitled to honk — not just to alert, but to demand space and silence others.
For those who challenge this behaviour, the risk is real. Increasingly, they are met with violence.
It’s not just the noise that’s rising in Delhi. It’s the temperature on the streets.
(With inputs from TOI)
On 27 July, a group of seven to eight people allegedly attacked two men using beer bottles and stones in Sector 10, Dwarka. Just two days earlier, gunshots were fired near Ajmeri Gate in central Delhi. On that same day, another man was beaten up in Munirka, in the city’s southwest, as reported by TOI.
Each of these conflicts, police said, started over honking.
More noise, more fights
A growing number of people are being caught using pressure horns, and it’s not just an issue of sound. According to Delhi Police, there has been a 6 percent increase this year in cases involving pressure horns. Up to July, 1,651 challans were issued, compared to 1,560 during the same period last year. Violations involving honking in silence zones or unnecessary honking have also doubled from 28 last year to 57 this year.
Enforcement teams have been keeping a close watch on areas near schools and hospitals, which are officially marked as no-honking zones. Vehicles fitted with pressure horns or modified exhaust systems are being targeted for checks.
Under Section 194F of the Motor Vehicles Act, unnecessary or excessive honking, especially in restricted zones, is punishable by a fine of Rs 1,000 for the first offence and Rs 2,000 for subsequent violations. Vehicles with a cut-out in the exhaust, allowing them to bypass the silencer and increase noise, also fall foul of the law.
‘One of the main sources of noise pollution’
Dinesh Gupta, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said honking was far more than a minor inconvenience.
"The frequent use of pressure horns distracts other drivers on the road, scares people, especially the elderly and sick, and is one of the main sources of noise pollution," Gupta told TOI.
But the impact of honking isn’t just limited to hearing or distraction. There’s a deeper neurological toll, experts say.
Psychological impact of horn noise
For some, the sharp sound of a horn doesn’t just irritate, it disturbs on a level most people don’t notice.
"Some people suffer from conditions such as misophonia or hyperacusis. These individuals are already prone to heightened anxiety levels, and even a relatively minor auditory stimulus, like the sharp sound of a horn, can significantly disturb them," said Dr Rajiv Mehta, senior consultant psychiatrist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital told TOI.
"What might seem like an ordinary noise to most people can cause deep irritation, discomfort, even sudden outbursts of anger, in affected individuals. At the time they commit such an act, it's possible that anxiety is controlling their actions."
This might help explain some of the aggressive confrontations on the roads, he added.
A new form of insult
More than just an annoyance, honking is increasingly seen as a form of challenge or provocation — especially in the capital’s high-pressure traffic environment.
Experts say drivers use horns not to signal but to assert power. A short beep becomes a way to dominate. A long, continuous honk can be read as an insult.
Dr Rajat Mitra, forensic psychology professor, explains, "Honking has evolved into a form of insult in urban settings. Continuous honking is often perceived as a personal affront, which can trigger aggression and conflict."
He added that people who engage in excessive honking often show no concern about the consequences. “They use the horn to assert dominance and superiority over others. When someone dares to object or confront this behaviour, they are attacked and turn from bystanders to victims in an environment where aggression is both normalised and rarely held accountable.”
Despite legal penalties and police monitoring, the core issue isn’t enforcement. It’s the mindset. In a city where everyone is trying to move a little faster, many feel entitled to honk — not just to alert, but to demand space and silence others.
For those who challenge this behaviour, the risk is real. Increasingly, they are met with violence.
It’s not just the noise that’s rising in Delhi. It’s the temperature on the streets.
(With inputs from TOI)
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