In a country where traffic noise and incessant honking is considered part of daily life, there is an Indian city that is unique for a different reason. Mizoram's capital is Aizawl, the only place in India where drivers rarely honk on the road.
For first-time visitors, the silence is striking. Traffic is still quite normal even when traffic is busy in the middle of the city and the horns blaring at high volumes in most Indian cities. This road culture of Aizawl has made it a great example of how discipline and civic responsibility can change the way that city life takes place.
Unlike the overwhelming presence of horns in metropolitan cities where drivers often overtake, express frustration, or navigate congested roads, Aizawl motorists listen to rules and be patient.
Residents say honking is bad for the peace and you do not respect your fellow commuters.
One of the biggest reasons behind the amazing driving culture is the sense of community among Mizoram. Children are taught from an early age discipline, courtesy, respect for others. There is no question that these are the values that are prevalent on the roads: drivers are not driving aggressively there but think slow and think rationally.
The city’s tight, hilly streets also encourage careful driving. The streets are narrow in nature and many streets have steep roads; speeding or reckless overtaking is rare. Safety drivers drive safely and pedestrians and fellow drivers are able to travel at a safe speed without making noise.
The traffic police and local authorities have also been very much part of the road policing and traffic safety enforcement. Awareness campaigns, strict adherence to traffic laws and community involvement over the years have maintained this unique culture.
Visitors often describe driving in Aizawl as a refreshing experience. Many tourists share videos on social media highlighting the city’s unusually quiet roads, comparing them to those in countries that have disciplined traffic systems. Loud horns fade and people’s minds relax, and driving is less stressful for them and pedestrians.
Though Aizawl doesn’t have an official law banning honking, the practice has become a powerful social norm. People simply choose not to honk unless it is absolutely necessary to avoid an accident or warn another road user of immediate danger.
Conventional wisdom holds that excessive honking leads to noise pollution and stress or sleep disturbance and health issues. In Aizawl, citizens cooperate and do everything right and observe road etiquette to avoid horn use to reduce noise pollution, and hence, Aizawl is a great example of how we can reduce noise pollution by working hard and not honking.
Aizawl is a great example in how to not only make safer roads but in the world of cities to which people live in and live in with high traffic and high noise levels.
For anyone who is going to visit northeastern India, the peaceful traffic culture in Aizawl is one of the most unique. It shows that even in one of the world’s busiest countries, silence on the roads is possible.
