DAILY LIFE blues

-Photograph & concept by Nabil Ahsan

This picture has been taken from the busy intersection in Rokeya Shoroni, and apparently, the sign board is an indication not to blow horn. I can't stop but laugh as there is hardly any enforcement of this restriction. It is worth noting that, the 11th Schedule of the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1983 imposes a fine of Tk. 30 to “blow horn continuously or to use horn of a prohibited type”. Yet I have never heard anybody get pulled over for blowing horn. On the contrary, our driving culture dictates that to blow horn is a good thing. As if the horn has some kind of magical power that will automatically repel other vehicles approaching your way. The more you press your horn, the safer you will be in the streets! That's what every new driver is taught when he sits in the driving seat. From personal experience, I feel using excessive horn hardly makes any difference.
Unfortunately, the “all time horn” culture completely ignores the level of psychological disturbance it causes to the people in the streets. Noise pollution is not only a mere botheration, but it is a serious health risk.  Regular exposure to high levels of noise damage hearing. Noise pollution can also increase stress and blood pressure, cause troubles sleeping and concentrating, and lead to bad tempers and fights. The level noise in the Streets of Dhaka far exceeds the accepted limit set by World Health Organization. That being the case, I am inspired when I see, traffic signs ordering not to blow horns. However, I also want to see some strict enforcement of this law. Just a few years back no body used a seat belt; today most driver put on the strap to avoid being pulled over. If the government is serious about noise pollution, it is possible to reduce it overnight by enforcing the law that already exists in the book!  

Nabil Ahsan is Barrister-at-Law.