“Indians deserve better”: Viral comparison between Bengaluru and Aizawl traffic sparks debate

A Canadian man living in India has sparked online conversation with a viral video highlighting the differences in noise pollution between two Indian cities during rush hour.

Caleb Friesen, a resident of Aizawl, posted a clip on Instagram featuring a side-by-side comparison of traffic sounds from Bengaluru and Aizawl during the evening rush. "Okay, now listen to this," he begins, capturing the loud, chaotic noise of Bengaluru’s traffic at 7:00 p.m. Filled with honking and engine sounds, he comments, "Indians deserve better from each other." He contrasts this with footage of Aizawl’s roads, where the traffic is much quieter despite being busy.

Moments later, he switches to footage from Aizawl, filmed at the same time, revealing a stark contrast in ambiance. The scene captures a peaceful and orderly environment with minimal to no honking. "This is where I actually live," Mr. Friesen explains, pointing out the absence of honking. He goes on to note that Aizawl enforces a strict no-honking rule, adding, "The police here do issue fines to those who disrupt the peace."


In the video, the Canadian content creator points out that despite Aizawl’s roads being narrower and steeper, drivers adhere to traffic rules without frustration. "Many people don't realize that most roads here are only one lane wide," he explains. "Yet, drivers patiently wait their turn, form queues, and even when there's room to overtake, they choose not to—and they don’t honk either," he adds.

Mr. Friesen also mentioned that drivers in Aizawl lower their headlights for oncoming traffic rather than using their horns. "They realize that honking doesn’t solve anything—it only adds to the chaos," he said. "There’s a greater sense of mutual respect among people here. I believe it’s time the rest of India takes note of that."

The video sparked strong responses from numerous social media users, with many expressing agreement with the content creator's message.

"Driving in Bangalore? Forget logic! It's a free-for-all where anyone can pop up from anywhere. Honking's your only warning - but when traffic is at a standstill, it's the last thing you want to hear," commented one user.

"There is absolutely no fine for honking, and yes there is also zero implementation of law for honking. No one told us not to honk, people don't honk and we are just following what others did," wrote another.