Motor Vehicles Act Section 194F — Use of horns and silence zones

CHAPTER XIII OFFENCES, PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE

Civil

Summary

Under clause (a), a person driving a motor vehicle commits an offence if they sound the horn without need, or continuously, or more than is necessary to ensure safety. This applies to any unnecessary or excessive use of the horn while driving.

Under sub-clause (ii) of clause (a), a person also commits an offence if they sound the horn in an area where a traffic sign prohibits the use of a horn. This means that even if the horn use might otherwise seem necessary, doing so in a designated silence zone is against the law.

Under clause (b), a person commits an offence if they drive a motor vehicle that uses a cut-out, which is a device that releases exhaust gases directly without passing them through the silencer. This is treated as a separate violation from horn use.

The punishment for any of these offences is a fine of one thousand rupees. For a second or subsequent offence, the fine increases to two thousand rupees.

Official Text

Whoever—

(a) while driving a motor vehicle—

(i) sounds the horn needlessly or continuously or more than necessary to ensure safety, or

(ii) sounds the horn in an area with a traffic sign prohibiting the use of a horn, or

(b) drives a motor vehicle which makes use of a cut-out by which exhaust gases are released other than through the silencer, shall be punishable with a fine of one thousand rupees and for a second or subsequent offence with a fine of two thousand rupees.]