Are You A Horn Honker?

[Car-Guy]

In NYC, of all places, I was stopped by the cops for honking the horn when someone was in a right turn lane and unsuccessfully trying to go straight. Just a warning, but still...

Cops stopping someone in NYC, especially for honking a car horn

 

[Nemo2]

Must admit though...the minibus trip, Bucharest to Brasov was 'exhilarating'.

Which got me remembering:

https://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f29/what-did-you-do-today-2018-version-90060-44.html

Post #874

Arrived in Bucharest, from Lisbon, at 05:30 this a.m.......caught the 07:30 Mercedes minibus direct from the airport to Brasov.......a three hour trip.

Middle aged driver was a cross between Heinrich Himmler and Smokey and the Bandit........."Solid white lines? Overtaking on a blind curve? Passing on the crest of a hill? Tailgating? Oncoming traffic?...What are these things of which you speak?"

At one point, blowing the horn and exchanging waves with a cop who was overseeing a bunch of firemen who were using the Jaws of Life on the remains of a vehicle wrapped around a tree, he proclaimed "He's my compadre".

His technical driving skills were superb.......his judgement in exercising those skills? Not so much.

One thing the trip did for me.........in future, when discussing motoring experiences, stories about Saudis will come in second place!

 

[GalaxyBoy]

When I first moved back to my smallish home town I almost rear-ended a “lady” who stopped at the top of the onramp ignoring the acceleration lane and I honked. She immediately let me know she thought she was Number 1!

 

[pb4uski]

The other day on the interstate I gave a car that was drifting towards my lane a quick toot to let them know that I was there since I was in their blindspot. Also, as others have noted if you're in a car in front of me and the light turns green and you don't move for a couple seconds you'll get a quick toot to wake you up from messing around with your phone and to get moving. In all cases like this I'm talking about one or two quick toots.

On the other hand, if you cut me off badly you may get probably about 3-5 seconds of horn... that's me telling you that not only did I notice that you cut me off but that I didn't appreciate it.

 

[pb4uski]

When I first moved back to my smallish home town I almost rear-ended a “lady” who stopped at the top of the onramp ignoring the acceleration lane and I honked. She immediately let me know she thought she was Number 1!

It is sometimes astounding the number of people that don't understand how acceleration lanes work. People like that are dangerous.

 

[Walt34]

Is anyone else annoyed by the vehicle manufacturer's choice to use the horn to prove a vehicle has been remotely locked? Totally unnecessary noise pollution! My vehicles lock without a noise at all....

So do all of mine. However, this does require that one at least lightly peruse the owner's manual to find out what magical incantation is required to turn the stupid thing off. It is optional, but turned on by default.

Since so few people can be bothered to do that I simply conclude that they are among the functionally illiterate. Or merely brain-dead.

 

[youbet]

The gentle reminder is a horn-tap, not a honk. I use it, and I don't mind if someone else uses it with me.

I guess it's all semantics, but I was raised where "the gentle reminder" was a toot. A little less gentle would be toot-toot. But if you toot-toot-toot someone, get ready for serious road rage and consequences!

 

[youbet]

On the other hand, if you cut me off badly you may get probably about 3-5 seconds of horn... that's me telling you that not only did I notice that you cut me off but that I didn't appreciate it.

Back in the day here in the big city, it was common for folks to let others know of their distaste for their awkward maneuvers by heavy duty horn blowing perhaps accompanied by some finger waving and open window profanity. Then we went through several years of amazingly violet road rage which included a number of homicides, intentional ramings, etc., right there on the spot. Suddenly, for better or for worse, the horn blowing, finger waving and cussing let up........... at least until you could figure out that the person you wanted to persecute wasn't likely to be rage-prone!

Life in the big city......

 

[eytonxav]

I do have two of my cars setup with truck air horns for when I really need to get someones attention or if they tick me off. But that's rare too.

I know a guy that has one of those air horns on his truck, and he loves to pull up behind unsuspecting people walking to their cars in shopping center parking lots, and he gives them a blast and captures their reaction on video. Seems like pretty juvenile behavior for a 40 something with a wife and kids.

 

[maestro]

If they are on their cell phone while driving ( and people, sitting at a red light is still driving)...let them have it lean in and blast it..

+1

Ppl sitting at the traffic light, looking at their phones, is the reason horns were invented, along with 'lane drifters', again with ppl looking at their phones. I thank God my horn works well...

 

[ransil]

Only when people do something stupid.

I do encourage use when someone is hiding in my blind spot and I'm changing lanes.

 

[aghemphi]

try to smile

I once rented a car in St Thomas. On the dash was a large sign:

DRIVE ON THE LEFT. HONK A LOT.

When I leave my rural midwest home for Boston or Chicago I cringe at all the rude honking. Then I remember St Thomas and feel better.

 

[2cheap2eat]

Experienced drivers in Texas rarely honk because everyone assumes everybody has a gun You only honk here if it's an emergency (or your just stupid).

 

[isisdave]

The other day on the interstate I gave a car that was drifting towards my lane a quick toot to let them know that I was there since I was in their blindspot. Also, as others have noted if you're in a car in front of me and the light turns green and you don't move for a couple seconds you'll get a quick toot to wake you up from messing around with your phone and to get moving. In all cases like this I'm talking about one or two quick toots.

On the other hand, if you cut me off badly you may get probably about 3-5 seconds of horn... that's me telling you that not only did I notice that you cut me off but that I didn't appreciate it.

This is EXACTLY my protocol! Quick toot for driver whose nose is in phone when the light turns green; half-second for the one who clearly didn't see me in his blind spot; and five-second blaaaat for the guy (always a guy) who quite intentionally endangers me... but only if he's turned off my road (see above about guns).

 

[eytonxav]

Experienced drivers in Texas rarely honk because everyone assumes everybody has a gun You only honk here if it's an emergency (or your just stupid).

You also do not give out the middle finger salute for that same reason.

 

[doneat54]

Not often at all, but here is where I will WAIL on my horn. 4 way intersection, traffic light intersection with heavy traffic. Light turns green for crossing traffic and they all pile in, traffic stops, drivers have entered the intersection KNOWING they have no chance of clearing it before the other light turns green.... and then block crossing traffic.



When I get the green light and enter the intersection with the now stopped cars in front of me, blocking EVERYTHING, I'll pull up to within a foot of their door and LAY on the horn. For like 45 seconds +. And I don't often even make eye contact with them either, and NEVER glare or gesture.



Huge pet peeve of mine, and yes, it makes noise, but I just think that MAYBE, next time they enter an intersection in heavy traffic, that they will remember the experience and possibly look at the situation and think of someone other than themselves.

And yes, I NEVER enter a traffic light intersection on a green unless I am sure I can clear the intersection to crossing traffic on the other side when the lights cycle.

 

[troutnut1]

I have extra loud griot’s airhorns on all my vehicles. We have more deer than people (literally) in Montana and they often freeze in their tracks when I honk in the car or on the motorcycle. And sometimes I honk at cow herds because they look bored (and it gives me lots of horn practice on the motorcycle so when some idiot starts to turn in front of me I know where the horn is instinctively).

Oh, and if you are texting instead of driving when the light turns green, you will definitely hear my horn. Pay attention.

 

[CoolRich59]

I had a road rage incident a few years ago. Since then I am reluctant to honk at anyone for any reason. There are some really disturbed people out there.

 

[troutnut1]

I had a road rage incident a few years ago. Since then I am reluctant to honk at anyone for any reason. There are some really disturbed people out there.

Now that I’m old it would probably be better if I just stick to honking at cattle herds. Thanks for the reminders.

 

[calmloki]

Depends on the car and how friendly a beep it has or rude a blast. Almost never honk at anyone, usually a nod and forefinger raise if on a country road and neighborliness is appropriate.

 

[kcowan]

I do it regularly, usually to get the driver ahead to stop texting and watch the road/ traffic lights etc.

DW does not and says I belong in Montreal/NYC. I say it helps keep my blood pressure down.

I also drive in Mexico but usually reserve it for more eggregious behaviour like crossing three lanes of traffic without any signal.

 

[cbo111]

I've probably honked my horn a dozen times this year, almost exclusively to expedite various animals out of the road. We have Sandhill Cranes and Turkey Vultures that stand in the middle of the road just taunting you to run them over. If you stop, they stop and stare at you. If you don't lean on the horn, you will be sitting there for a good bit. Here is an encounter from earlier this summer.

 

[Car-Guy]

There are some really disturbed people out there.

We have some too... Usually they are driving around with out of state tags.

 

[street]

Like the bumper stickers say "honk if you are horny". Lol

 

[Gumby]

Like the bumper stickers say "honk if you are horny". Lol

Back in the early 1980's, I was driving alone on the Garden State Parkway after a holiday and came up on a very large Mercedes sedan. The 5 occupants were a middle aged couple in the front seat and three people in the back seat - an elderly couple and one attractive young woman about 18-20. I'm guessing the two couples were the young woman's parents and grandparents. There were coats and things up on the shelf behind the rear seat, and jammed back behind the coats, up against the glass behind the young woman, was a handwritten piece of paper that said "Honk if You're Horny." I just smiled and waved to her as I passed, but it greatly amused me to think of the older people wondering why everyone was honking at them.