HYDERABAD: The use of sirens by private vehicles seems to be increasing at a steady rate. Though only a few categories of vehicles are permitted to use sirens, making a mockery of the rules are politicians and their followers, among several others, who misuse the sirens only to zip through the city traffic. With the election season round the corner and more public meetings happening particularly in the city, the number of vehicles using sirens to get away from traffic jams and even police checks are on the rise.
An automobile store owner in Secunderabad said that siren devices are not costly and they are easily available on e-commerce portals.
“People, particularly those using high end vehicles and with fancy registration numbers, come to us for sirens. They use it as a status symbol,” he added.
But the Central Motor Vehicle Rules say, “No motor vehicle shall be fitted with a multi-toned horn giving a succession of different notes or a sound producing device giving an unduly harsh shrill loud or alarming noise.”
Only vehicles used as ambulances, for fire-fighting and salvaging purposes or police or operators of construction equipment vehicles or officers of motor vehicles departments are approved by the registering authority.
Elected representatives cannot use sirens on their vehicles, when they are not accompanied by a police escort. However, not only elected representatives but even vehicles used by their family members, politicos and their followers and even corporators are using sirens on their vehicles illegally.
Taking a serious note of this menace, the police have started a crackdown on such vehicles.
“We are conducting special drives and when sirens are found, we are removing them and counseling the drivers and owners. If they are caught violating repeatedly, then cases will be registered against them,” said DCP Traffic-I, Hyderabad, Rahul Hegde.
Noisy lot
The city police booked 301 cases on sound pollution, including the use of sirens in the first two months of this year.
2022 - 7,409 cases
2021 - 10,110 cases
