It is a well-known fact that decibel levels are extremely high on the roads of the city, especially at intersections, where dozens of impatient drivers start honking simultaneously at even a second delay as the light turns green.
While most commuters spend a few minutes on such intersections, and even in those few minutes they just roll up their windows to protect themselves from all the noise, it is the traffic cops, who face the worst of the vehicular noise pollution in their line of duty as they spend their whole day at busy intersections regulating traffic.
As per estimates, the average exposure of the traffic policemen deployed at the noisiest junctions in the city amounts to over 100 decibels, almost twice the permissible limit of the residential areas and one-and-a-half times that of industrial areas. As a result of being exposed to such a high level of noise in their day-to-day life, traffic cops suffer 50 per cent more stress than people in any other job, said experts.
According to Dr Girish Raheja, ENT consultant at Apollo Hospital, many patients do not go to the OPD at the early stage of the ailment. “It would be pertinent to say that even traffic police officials deputed on the field (road side) must be suffering from hearing complications, but they don't realise till they suffer from major hearing issue,” said Dr Raheja said.
“Most people do not bother about the effect of noise pollution on their lives unless they face severe health problem. But for traffic policemen noise pollution is a serious cause of worry as it is often observed at many places. It has been noticed that traffic police find it difficult to hear clearly after they return from duty,” a traffic official said.
The problem worsens with vehicles having modified horns, that are much louder than regular factory-fitted horns, said a traffic cop on duty.
“Many youngsters now-a-day modify their vehicles to generate more noise. It is more common with bikers and also with some cars as well. Not only louder horns, these vehicles are louder even when they are being driven normally. It is difficult to identify these vehicles from a distance. And when they stop at traffic intersections, they don't make that much noise,” he added.
While masks and special goggles help these traffic police to avoid serious health hazards related to polluted air, but when it comes to noise pollution, there is no way to filter it. While some officials said they cannot be seen wearing headphones while on duty, they also need uninhibited hearing to perform their duties as well.