In Bangalore's roads

Please do NOT sound horn!

Driving in Bangalore is really driving all of us up the wall, and we are not talking just about the density of traffic. Before you can finish counting 1 to 5, you will hear someone HONKING. And this comes in various "musical" forms. And then you have a 4-wheeler using a particular horn generally used by a two-wheeler, and vice versa.
Such people who have this inexorable itch to honk every five seconds should be penalized on the spot. The High Court has banned honking as also regular and unwarranted honking at particular timings and in specified areas.
The major culprits are not unexpectedly the devil-may-care drivers of BMTC buses, private buses, call centre cabs and lorry drivers. These people honk at anything that moves on the road! While everyone talks about the air pollution few people are concerned about the noise pollution which is equally dangerous if not worse. Even educated people are not averse to honking when it is not needed at all.
Says PK Ananthkumar, a photo journalist, who is most of the time on the roads, "Honking is an indication of a sick mind and it may even lead to mental disorder if it is not treated early." He then goes on to explain why: "Given the state of traffic in most of the roads especially in peak hours, no one can travel at a speed of more than 20-30 km per hour, which means there is no conceivable use whatsoever of honking, so why then do we do it?"

Recently, a group of software professionals joined together to form a forum to fight unnecessary honking and such other traffic malpractices.

Another example of a daily nuisance on the roads is the use of Hi-beam lights. The culprits are usually once again the drivers of BMTC buses and call centre cabs, especially during night time, when one cannot see what is coming from the opposite direction. The major problem is for the two wheelers and the pedestrians who walk on the footpath. Some imported cars have extra lights other then the regular domes with fancy colored light, which can cause temporary blindness for a few minutes. What is the need for such hi-beam lights in the main thoroughfares of the city where there are streetlights? We will be served better if the usual parking lights are used which are more visible to the vehicular traffic coming from the opposite direction?

Will the RTO authorities act tough against such blatant violators of traffic regulations? (Readers can email their complaints to info@thisweekbangalore.com)