Harikrishnan

Saturday, July 7th, 2007

No honking

While driving through Bangalore, many times i have crossed this road in Indiranagar, with some 20-25 boards of all shapes and sizes with the same message “no honking” – in less than 75-100 mts distance, clearly overdoing it.
On your right, is a school and straight ahead is 100 feet road Indiranagar.

Obviously the school authorities, knowing the honk-thrice-a-minute Bangalorean, have put them up with good intensions, so that the students can learn in a less noisy environment.

From the angle of the school authorities they have done what best they can. But every time I pass through the road, I watch, at least one vehicle honks. Even I had to honk once.

Why do they do that? First of all why would someone honk?
Does someone honk just like that? No.
So what are the possible reasons of honking?
Are those taken care?
Let’s examine the particular road again.

Every time you drive by the road, there are people running across the road to enter the school gate. You, as a reflex action, honk.
There are auto rickshaws and cars stopped on the left side suddenly coming to life and taking to the main road. You have to honk.
The road is narrow; thanks to the parking of school buses, and cars almost stop in the middle of the road to let students disembark. You have to honk.

Also remember, you have seen this umpteen number of “no horn” boards, and the horns, most effective weapon the mankind invented after AK47, are live in your memory.

Its a classic example of using the conventional wisdom, instead of applying a little thought according to the scenario.

Below would be the conversation in the board meeting.

“There is excessive honking in the lane next to our school”
“Erect a no honking board”.

Simple. But this repeats every week.

“There is excessive honking in the lane next to our school, even now.”
“Erect another no honking board”.

Now, they have 25 boards on either side of the road.
And even now, no use. Doesn’t serve the purpose.

What could have been done better? Address the base problem, first.

1) Put a board long before the area, saying school zone.

2) Clear the road, no parking on either side.

3) Put a board saying, go slow main road ahead.
(Or even have a few humps before entering the school zone/main road)

4) Another board saying follow your lane, and do not over take.

5) Maybe for the sake of it have a board, saying please wait your turn, avoid honking.

When all of this falls into place, you control the driver of the car. First you warn him this is a school zone. You avoid all the possible reasons for him to honk. Give him a nice road to drive smoothly. You tell him that there is a main road ahead, so for your own safety, go slow. To enter the main road, do not overtake, but wait for your turn.

You need not even tell him not to honk. He will not. He doesn’t need to.

When you present it this way, you sound more concerned of the driver, which somehow makes him happy, and obeys with out much resistance. It’s far better than showing him 25 no honking signs.

Its not just saying, but getting things done in the way you want is effective communication.