Coping with Noise Pollution

The subject of loud, cacophonous noise (what one tends to call noise pollution) has cropped up in this column repeatedly without any visible action from the authorities concerned. The only reason why we keep reverting to the subject is the harm that is being done to children and elderly citizens as a consequence of mindless noise pollution. Things have deteriorated to such an extent that there is legitimate reason to fear about what could happen to the hearing of tender children with all the noise pollution that they have to bear. Today, there is a tendency of people competing with one another to produce the most cacophonous and unbearable noises for no rhyme or reason. A large number of cars have installed devices that produce the most unhealthy noises when any car is being reversed. Those who have been driving cars for over half-a-century or longer are of the firm opinion that nobody needs all the cacophonous noise to tell the world that they are reversing a car. There is no need to pretend that everyone else driving a car is either deaf or blind. People have driven cars for close to half-a-century and longer. Most of them know the responsibilities of careful driving. And neither driving manuals nor driving instructors are ever going to claim that one needs to install cacophonous devices on cars to assist in reversing them. Unfortunately, a large number of vehicles with noise-producing devices are those belonging to the Home department. The only conclusion to be drawn, therefore, is that there are number of officers in the Home department who are fond of noise for the sake of noise or for the amusement that can be derived from irritating others with cacophonous noises. They need to be informed that people can go to court and easily convince judges about the harm that noise pollution is doing to children and older citizens. Once this happens, the very department that is entrusted with the duty of maintaining law and order is likely to be convicted of breaching the peace. This is the most undesirable scenario that one can contemplate in any civilized society.