Truck horns are an essential part of the vehicle, designed to warn other road users, especially in dangerous situations. However, the abuse of horns, especially high-volume horns on trucks, is becoming a major problem, significantly affecting traffic safety and public health. So, what is the appropriate decibel level for a truck horn to comply with regulations and ensure safety for everyone? This article from Xe Tải Mỹ Đình will provide detailed and comprehensive information on this issue.
According to the regulations of the Vietnam Register Department, the volume of truck horns when participating in traffic must be in the range of 90 to 115 decibels (dB). This is the volume level considered sufficient to warn in necessary situations without causing excessive noise pollution or negatively affecting the hearing and psychology of those around.
However, in reality, the situation of trucks using air horns or modified horns with volumes exceeding the allowable level is still common. Many drivers, especially of large trucks, container trucks, dump trucks, etc., often install additional air horns or horns with sounds much louder than the standard, even up to 250 dB or more. This not only violates the Law on Road Traffic but also causes many serious consequences.
According to reports from many localities and media agencies, excessively loud truck horns have become a nightmare for people, especially in areas with high truck density such as roads near industrial parks, construction sites, or city belt routes. The deafening horn sounds not only cause discomfort and fatigue but can also lead to more serious consequences.
The Immense Harm From Overly Loud Truck Horns
Using truck horns with volumes exceeding regulations is not only a violation of the law but also poses many risks and harms:
1. Causes Noise Pollution and Affects Health:
Truck horns with high sound intensity, especially air horns, can cause serious noise pollution. Frequent exposure to loud noise can lead to health problems such as:
- Hearing Loss: Noise above 85dB can be harmful to hearing if exposed to for a long time. Truck horns exceeding 100dB can cause immediate hearing damage if nearby.
- Sleep Disorders: Truck horns, especially at night, can cause difficulty sleeping, insomnia, affecting sleep quality and overall health.
- Increased Tension and Stress: Loud noise stimulates the nervous system, increasing tension, anxiety, and potentially leading to other psychological problems.
- Affects Cardiovascular Health: Research shows that loud noise can increase blood pressure, heart rate, and the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
2. Causes Distraction and Risk of Traffic Accidents:
Overly loud and unexpected truck horns can startle pedestrians, causing them to lose focus, especially those on motorbikes, bicycles, or pedestrians. This can lead to dangerous situations and unfortunate traffic accidents.
Tragic accidents caused by truck horns have been recorded. A typical example is the accident in Lao Cai, when a loud truck horn startled a cyclist, causing them to fall onto the road and be run over by the truck, resulting in death. 
A truck with a very large horn installed, illustrating the dangers of excessive noise.
3. Causes Frustration and Affects Social Order:
The abuse of truck horns causes discomfort and frustration in the community. It creates a noisy, stressful, and uncivilized traffic environment.
Why Do Loud Truck Horns Still “Run Rampant”?
Despite regulations on truck horn volume and the obvious harms, the situation of trucks using excessively loud horns is still common. The reasons may include:
- Poor Awareness of Legal Compliance: Some truck drivers are not fully aware of the regulations and harms of using excessively loud horns. They believe that loud horns help the vehicle move faster and make it easier to ask for the right of way.
- Habit of Using Horns Indiscriminately: Many drivers have a habit of using horns arbitrarily, not for the right purpose, even considering pressing the horn continuously as a way to “assert themselves” or express impatience.
- Easy to Install and Trade Modified Horns: The market for car and motorbike accessories still has the situation of buying, selling, and installing high-power air horns and modified horns easily. The cost of these horns is also not too high, only from a few hundred thousand dong.
- Difficulty in Inspection and Handling: Checking and handling violations of truck horn volume still face many difficulties due to a lack of specialized sound measurement equipment and a thin functional force. In addition, control at registration centers is not really effective because car owners can remove modified horns before registration and reinstall them afterward.
A driver installing a large air horn on his truck.
What Solutions Are There to Reduce Noise From Truck Horns?
To solve the problem of noise from truck horns, there needs to be a synchronized coordination between functional agencies, transport businesses, and the awareness of each driver:
1. Strengthen Inspection and Strict Penalties:
Traffic police and transport inspectors need to strengthen patrols, control, and strictly handle cases of trucks using air horns, modified horns, or horns with volumes exceeding regulations. It is necessary to equip functional forces with sufficient sound measurement equipment to ensure accurate and effective penalties.
2. Raise Awareness of Legal Compliance and Traffic Culture:
Functional agencies and transport businesses need to promote propaganda and education on road traffic laws, especially regulations on the use of vehicle horns. Raise drivers’ awareness of the harms of noise and the importance of using horns for the right purpose and in accordance with regulations.
3. Strictly Control the Production and Trading of Vehicle Horns:
There needs to be stricter management measures for the production, import, and trading of vehicle horns, especially air horns and modified horns. Prevent the circulation of horns that do not meet standards or horns with volumes exceeding regulations.
4. Tighten Registration Work:
Registration centers need to strengthen inspection and stricter supervision of the horn systems of vehicles during registration. Resolutely refuse registration for vehicles that do not meet the standard for horn volume.
5. Change Driving Habits:
Each truck driver needs to improve their awareness and change their driving habits. Reduce speed and yield instead of abusing the horn. Use the horn for the right purpose, only when really necessary to warn of danger.
Conclusion:
Truck horns are an indispensable part of transportation vehicles, but using them in accordance with regulations and with culture is extremely important. Knowing what decibel level a truck horn is valid for, complying with regulations, and using horns responsibly not only helps ensure traffic safety and reduce noise pollution but also contributes to building a more civilized and friendly traffic environment. Xe Tải Mỹ Đình always accompanies drivers and the community in building a safe and civilized traffic environment.
