Some Shanghai drivers think they've found a way around the city's recent ban on horn blowing.

Instead of an insistent honk, their vehicles are now emitting human-voice warnings and even music.

Those who convert to the new sounds will find they've wasted the hundreds of yuan it takes to retool their tooting, however. Traffic police say a horn is a horn no matter how sweet it sounds.

The switch to personal voice-overs and theme music began early this month when traffic police began enforcing a ban on horn blowing in attempt to reduce noise levels in the boisterous downtown. Car and truck drivers who violate the prohibition can be fined up to 200 yuan (US$26) and moped riders up to 50 yuan.

At least one cabby interviewed by Shanghai Daily is doing the right thing to cure his addiction to noise making. He posted a large-type note on his horn that says, "Don't press the button."

But others just can't seem to give up the need to call attention to their presence on the roadway.

Car-club Websites are receiving an increasing number of bulletin board postings urging drivers to try to beat the noise rap by switching to something that doesn't sound like a traditional horn.

An inventive cabby who drives for the Qiangsheng taxi fleet showed off his new honk to a Shanghai Daily reporter yesterday. When he depresses the horn button a woman's voice says, "Please mind the car; we are making a turn."

"A couple of days ago, I sounded my new horn near a traffic police officer," the cabby said. "He seemed amazed at first, then he gave me a warning gesture and helpless smile and let me pass."

Zhu Zhen, who works for a car repair store on Weihai Road, said the aural modifications cost between 100 yuan and 800 yuan. In the past, most customers just wanted a more personal sound - perhaps to match the ringtone on their cell phone.

It's too early to tell whether the horn ban is a potential windfall for Zhu.

But he'd better cash in quick.

"The new rule prohibits any kind of horn blaring no matter what it sounds like," said Sun Guofu, who works for the city traffic police.

(Shanghai Daily June 27, 2007)