Day 6: Why Do People Honk So Much?

We take this quite seriously! (Photo credit)

Disclaimer: I don't drive and so I don't know how critical honking is to be able to drive through the streets. My spouse pretty much doesn't use it at all and that's all the exposure I have about this)

Whether you drive or you don't, the loudest noise when you step out on Indian streets is the incessant honking from every vehicle. And as someone who's always sitting next to the driver, I have unique observations about honking. People honk in traffic jams, people honk when the light turns green as if it'll speeden up the process, people honk if someone stops for as much as a second in front of them even though no one would stop unless there's another vehicle blocking their way. Sometimes people honk only because they are imbecile because it seems just like that - no reason!

So here are a few reasons why I think people honk so much:

1. We are Indians and we want to use every feature to the maximum capacity. We have a horn and we'll use it well.
2. Sitting in traffic gets boring - let's make some noise
3. It could be a source of entertainment - honk-honk every few minutes keeps the rhythm going
4. This is my fav - some people hit it like it's some kind of a pleasure point and the driver will be finished before reaching home - if you know what I mean ;)
5. Sometimes it just seems like lack of common sense - honk just to be on the safer side
6. Maybe, there's a myth that says the more you honk, the luckier you get! Why else would people honk for no reason too!
7. Honking noises might reach the aliens who are looking for a planet with life and this could be our chance to get discovered!
8. I guess honking is also a secret way to making/saving/generating money - I don't know! Seems like a good reason to go honk honk honk honk honk
9. Honking also seems like a secret code to something. Maybe, people who honk so much are trying to tell us something. We should hear more carefully, I guess!
10. All the honking might help people discover their musical talent. I am guessing some of our music composers found their talent honking away to glory
11. This is my last guess - people keep pressing the horn hoping to release weapons to destroy all the vehicles ahead of them. They keep at it hoping the button will get unstuck someday

Why do you think people honk so much? I am sure you must have some theories about it! Go on..shoot!

This post is written for the daily blogging challenge #NaBloPoMo by Blogher where I will write one post everyday!

2050 AD - Traffic

Sonny: Dad, can I please borrow your Super-Cycle for today? Please, Dad....

Daddy: Darling, you are not old enough to ride a cycle so advanced. You stick to your cycle with pedals. It’s the safest for you.

Sonny: But Dad, my friends are my age and they get to ride their Dads’ cycles. We are not kids anymore, Dad! One of my friend’s dad has the Killer-Cycle that can go at great speeds and carry an entire family along!!

Daddy: Bad...bad, I don’t recommend that at all. You know when I was your age, my Dad didn’t let me touch his car till I finished college and you are still in school.

Sonny: Daddy, did your car also go zooming like the Killer-Cycle?

Daddy: (laughing) you cannot compare cars and cycles. Cars had a lot more power and speed. You could see streams of cars moving bumper to bumper during peak hours and it turned into a stream of lights by evening! I would sit in mine and listen to music while waiting at red lights, some of which could be on for minutes.

Sonny: Stream of lights!! That must be quite a site, dad! Did you have all the models that we see in the car museum now?

Daddy: Well! A lot of those models rode on the road. People were crazy about cars. To some it was some kind of a prestige issue! There were cheaper and smaller versions like Nano and Bono cars to cater to the middle class. In our joy of affording the four-wheeler, we didn’t realise the blunder we were committing! There were cars and more cars and not enough space either to park them or drive them on the roads. Not to forget other vehicles like two and three-wheelers like scooters, bikes, rickshaws and autos. The roads would get chocobloc and people would go crazy trying to handle all of it.

Sonny: But we have each one of us own a cycle today and things don’t sound crazy like you say.

Daddy: Yes but we’ve become wiser now. After the law allowing only one cycle per head and sticking to your lanes legally binding, there’s a lot of discipline on the roads. In our times, you could have as many cars as you can afford and drive them around with no lane discipline. You can imagine the kind of space it required and the noise it created. We were insane enough to leave the engines running even during our wait for the signals to turn green! And, of course, all the fuel we had ran out much faster because of this. We never dreamt of times like these when there would be no petrol left to drive our cars around!!

The noise of the engines running idly greatly added to the noise pollution. You should have been there to deafening honking that people irresponsibly resorted to. The ban of horns on cycles has made our world a much quieter place to live in.

Sonny: Daddy, I think I am happier being born when the mad phase is over and we have some peace and order restored!

Daddy: You bet! And take my cycle tomorrow...but only this time, alright!!

Sonny (happily): only this time!!