I'm not talking about a single angry blast to avoid an accident. That kind of horning is perfectly understandable. What I mean is a curious constant tooting Indians keep up for any reason you can imagine or couldn't imagine. Passing a car? Honk honk! Changing to the right lane? Give a toot! Changing to the left lane? Try out that horn! Speeding up a bit? Sound the alarm! You are even reminded to use your horn, if you somehow forgot, with "Horn OK Please" hand-painted on the back of every truck. And it isn't because the cars and trucks and rickshaws are ill-equipped. They have directionals which probably work. But why would you flip on a light when you have a horn! In India, directionals would be more aptly named optionals, or, better yet, ornaments. It seems all you need to drive in Mumbai is a functioning horn, ballsiness, and a hell of a lot of luck.
I am not sure how this method of driving has developed. The government would like to change it; maybe enough people have complained of noise pollution. There are signs up asking drivers not to horn: Silence zone, No honking, or, my personal favorite, No Horn! Unless absolutely necessary. I have a feeling I will never witness horn-free traffic in Mumbai, though. How can you change the horning habits of millions of people? Unless the government funds a mass hornectomy of all vehicles, the horn is here to stay for a long while. Bring your earplugs if you choose to visit.
P.S. I am going through camera withdrawal right now. I will post pictures as soon as I can, but before I can go out snapping pictures, we need to find an apartment, move in, find a reliable nanny. Then! I will be able to enjoy Mumbai and get shutter happy. ;)
