Kolkata Two-Wheeler Riders Honk 131 Times Per Hour, Bengaluru Panic-Brakes the Most: Ather Energy

Riders of electric two-wheelers in Kolkata sound their horns the most across India, recording an average of 131 honks per hour, while Bengaluru riders apply panic brakes four times more often than their Mumbai counterparts, according to year-end riding insights for 2025 released by Ather Energy on Tuesday. The electric two-wheeler manufacturer's analysis of data from over five lakh of wirelessly connected electric scooters nationwide said that riders are progressively depending on connected technology during their daily journeys, with city-specific riding patterns showing how software is influencing real-world transportation.

Regional Variations in Honking Behaviour

According to Ather Energy's data, honking tendencies differed significantly between cities. Kolkata registered the nation's highest honking frequency at 131 honks per hour, indicating congested traffic conditions and assertive auditory communication amongst road users.

Bengaluru riders executed panic braking manoeuvres nearly four times more frequently than Mumbai riders, underscoring greater traffic unpredictability and regular stop-start scenarios in the city, according to the year-end riding insights.

Urban centres including Pune and Hyderabad ranked amongst the quietest, suggesting comparatively calmer and more predictable riding conditions, the company added.

Tier-II urban areas and smaller municipalities in southern India also exhibited more consistent riding conduct with reduced panic-braking and honking frequency.

“Two wheelers remain India’s most widely used personal mobility option, but there is currently very limited real-time visibility into how people actually ride every day,” Ravneet Phokela, Chief Business Officer at Ather Energy, said in a statement. 

“Our year-end insights show that software is becoming an active part of commuting, helping riders to respond better to road conditions, monitor riding behaviour, and improve safety.”

Two-wheelers constitute India's most extensively used personal transportation option, yet currently very limited real-time insight exists into how individuals actually ride daily, he observed.

City-Specific Usage Patterns

Ather Energy's year-end insights also discovered that safety-oriented software capabilities were increasingly utilised daily, with Ather's "FallSafe" system -- which automatically disconnects motor power when a scooter overturns -- activated less frequently in Mumbai and Bengaluru at approximately one deployment every two years per scooter.

Live Location Sharing More Popular in High-Traffic Areas

Live location sharing, a connected feature developed to enhance safety and situational awareness, was employed more actively in high-traffic metropolitan centres.

"Riders in Agra, Kota, and New Delhi shared their live location two to three times more often than those in smaller, quieter towns like Porvorim and Ramanagara," Ather Energy said.

Beyond Navigation

The information also emphasised engagement beyond navigation and safety functions, citing the women's cricket World Cup final as an example, when more than 31,000 riders accessed live match scores directly through their scooter dashboards.

This reflected how connected electric two-wheelers are transforming into interactive platforms integrated within everyday life, the company stated, adding the insights emphasise that India's electric two-wheeler market is progressing beyond hardware and electrification alone.