Discussion
popeyewhite said:
Rick101 said:
Just back from the North Coast 500.
Plentiful use of the horn on unsighted single track roads. Certainly one occasion when there was an oncoming vehicle.
Thanks for the tip Reg
I'm sure the locals appreciated your yobbish driving skills.Plentiful use of the horn on unsighted single track roads. Certainly one occasion when there was an oncoming vehicle.
Thanks for the tip Reg
From the North Coast 500 website - which makes no mention whatsoever of horn usage - their advice for driving on narrow or single track country roads:
"Always drive at a speed which will allow you to stop in the distance you can see to be clear (HALF the distance you can see clear on a single track road)."
It also mentions "When you are on this wonderful touring route, you will be sharing it with the people whose lives and livelihoods depend on the roads in and around the NC500, as well as your fellow travellers from all over the world, so make sure you know how to drive and ride responsibly, safely and respectfully."
I'm surprised anyone can think blasting your horn with "plentiful use" is something to boast about.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@58.2307608,-5.29521...
Edited by JM on Wednesday 28th September 16:10
Reg Local said:
The countryside (however you want to define "countryside") is not a designated "quiet place". It's just a place, like all other places in the UK, With roads running through it and road users who are obliged to move from place to place under a standard set of rules and customs.
There is no obligation whatsoever to avoid horn use in rural areas just because it might startle a sheep, scare a fox or slightly alarm a foraging badger.
If you think another road user may benefit by use of the horn, then you may use your horn perfectly legitimately, whether you're driving across the moors, through the New Forest, over the Yorkshire Dales or along Deansgate in Manchester. In this case, a short horn warning on the approach to a corner with a very limited view due to high hedges may have alerted the oncoming car to the presence of the OP and avoided the near miss.
In case you weren't aware, the sound of a crash, followed by the sound of emergency sirens can be far more of a disturbance than a short toot of the horn.
Town TIT driving like a Town TIT on a single lane with no knowledge of stopping distance.There is no obligation whatsoever to avoid horn use in rural areas just because it might startle a sheep, scare a fox or slightly alarm a foraging badger.
If you think another road user may benefit by use of the horn, then you may use your horn perfectly legitimately, whether you're driving across the moors, through the New Forest, over the Yorkshire Dales or along Deansgate in Manchester. In this case, a short horn warning on the approach to a corner with a very limited view due to high hedges may have alerted the oncoming car to the presence of the OP and avoided the near miss.
In case you weren't aware, the sound of a crash, followed by the sound of emergency sirens can be far more of a disturbance than a short toot of the horn.
JM said:
This is a place I have used and often meet others using their horn, on the NC500. Not many other places that I can think of that I would use it though.
[url]https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@58.2307608,-5.2952187,3a,75y,28.81h,98.11t,-1.69r/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssKQ8eyM3T2_SyUAWYhmlrw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
[/url]
I'm sorry I couldn't open that.[url]https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@58.2307608,-5.2952187,3a,75y,28.81h,98.11t,-1.69r/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssKQ8eyM3T2_SyUAWYhmlrw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
[/url]
There's a narrowing of a country lane near me between two houses, only one car width wide and totally blind. It's impossible to see any oncoming vehicle, so cars slow to a walking pace. No one honks (I suspect this is out of respect to the people who live in the houses though), and I've certainly not seen or heard of any accidents there. There are probably certain situations where honking might help, but I'd assume most good drivers were driving at a snails pace anyway if they couldn't see anything approaching - and not relying on an oncoming driver 1. hearing the horn in the first place and 2. being able to tell which direction the noise was coming from. Also it is a fact that when we are looking at something the brain reduces hearing in order to enhance the visual signal. Most horn usage therefore on narrow lanes is completely frivolous and pointless.
popeyewhite said:
JM said:
This is a place I have used and often meet others using their horn, on the NC500. Not many other places that I can think of that I would use it though.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@58.2307608,-5.29521...
I'm sorry I couldn't open that.https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@58.2307608,-5.29521...
popeyewhite said:
Rule 92 states you can use the horn when moving to alert other road users to you presence. If you can't see anyone round the bend does this mean you'd use the horn on every bend on every country lane? Of course not. Give me strength. Have some respect for the countryside and the animals and people that live there and enjoy the peace. Oh, and:
The countryside is only quiet because there's no-one bloody there.Dizeee said:
Responsibly - taking responsibility for your own actions and presence on the road - giving information audibly by use of a horn note would be very responsible along certain parts of that route I am sure.
Scaring wildlife, alarming cyclists, horse riders and walkers and disturbing the peace and quiet is certainly "giving information", but is hardly responsible.Dizeee said:
Safely - Driving within half the distance you can see to be clear on your own side of the road / half distance stopping rules apply.
I've already said that. So if you agree - why d'you need the horn as well? Dizeee said:
Respectfully - being mindful and respectful of others including road users. Giving information audibly would be gratefully received by pedestrians (with dogs)
No, it wouldn't.Dizeee said:
and cyclists no doubt,
No it wouldn't.Eyesight is the most important of senses when driving, if you don't honk people will still approach a narrowing bend slowly!
Dizeee said:
By giving this information at the appropriate times, with the appropriate vision, it can be beneficial to all.
"Appropriate vision"? Lost me there, sorry, nice soundbite though. Dizeee said:
I can't understand your position on this,
Don't know why. But I'll repeat what I've already written as you obviously haven't bothered to read the thread properly: Spare using your horn unnecessarily in the countryside, it scares animals, annoys locals and can actually cause an accident. As I've already explained.
Dizeee said:
it makes no sense and goes against all advice given from the HC to proper advanced theory.
Incorrect. Dizeee said:
How can you possibly think being a silent road user is safer than being a road user who enhances their presence on the road as much as possible, within the boundaries of what is legally and morally acceptable?
You're getting confused: I originally pleaded for the horn to be avoided if possible in the countryside, not for all road users to become a "silent road user"!!
See below:
popeyewhite said:
Please, please please don't do this. Think of others. People go to the countryside for peace and quiet, not to listen to the beeping of car horns. Lots of sheep on and around the roads here as well - you want to frighten them into the path of another vehicle? Really, just drive according to the conditions.
In response to:Reg Local said:
It's sometimes worth giving a horn warning on the approach to badly-sighted corners too.
The barking horn zealot (above) went onReg Local said:
The horn is a signal & it's entirely appropriate to use it as a warning to other road users, whether that's in the city, in the countryside or driving across the Kalahari desert.
No, it's not "entirely appropriate" to use it in the countryside as a warning - there are a number of other factors involved, which have been explained a number of times now, that don't occur in the city. Dizeee said:
I can only presume you have bought a house somewhere in the country near a particularly hazardous bend and have therefore developed an unhealthy attitude towards this fantastic and under used skill.
"fantastic and underused skill" Very good 
I live in town BTW.
Dizeee said:
I used to live in a lovely cottage on Pirbright Bends, was there for 6 years and in that time we endured horrendous speed, non stop horn notes that WERE inappropriate and hugely dangerous overtaking - all on a piece of road dead straight past our doorstep for 0.7 miles. Guess what - we moved!
My sympathy.This beeping the horn malarkey is a total nonsense, probably any merit in it only extending to a slow motion time warp where Ford Anglias and Hillman Hunters are de rigeur again.
In our scenario, what likelyhood is there where the lads in their modern insulated VW Golf (probably with stereo banging out some garbage) approaching at speed are likely to hear the OP giving it the horn anyway, bearing in mind the distance at which they would need to hear it for it to have any impact on the result?
And were there a horse and rider around the corner the horn would be a bloody liability rather than a pre-emptive safety measure. Perhaps a pedestrian or cycle on the OP's side of the road might gain something from this, but on balance to me the practise is most definitely best avoided unless being seen as a bit of a bellend is an added bonus.
In our scenario, what likelyhood is there where the lads in their modern insulated VW Golf (probably with stereo banging out some garbage) approaching at speed are likely to hear the OP giving it the horn anyway, bearing in mind the distance at which they would need to hear it for it to have any impact on the result?
And were there a horse and rider around the corner the horn would be a bloody liability rather than a pre-emptive safety measure. Perhaps a pedestrian or cycle on the OP's side of the road might gain something from this, but on balance to me the practise is most definitely best avoided unless being seen as a bit of a bellend is an added bonus.
Thanks for your very in depth conclusion of my post.
I will stand by my comments, and choose to respectfully disagree with you.
I would hazard a guess that on the road, you might be the sort of driver I choose to avoid.
Or better still - having overtaken - decides to perform a series of headlight flashes in my rear view mirror at the exact point I am executing the next overtake that, in your opinion, is worthy of further headlight flashes - now distant in my mirror.
I heavily disagree. As would most.
I will stand by my comments, and choose to respectfully disagree with you.
I would hazard a guess that on the road, you might be the sort of driver I choose to avoid.
Or better still - having overtaken - decides to perform a series of headlight flashes in my rear view mirror at the exact point I am executing the next overtake that, in your opinion, is worthy of further headlight flashes - now distant in my mirror.
I heavily disagree. As would most.
cmaguire said:
In our scenario, what likelyhood is there where the lads in their modern insulated VW Golf (probably with stereo banging out some garbage) approaching at speed are likely to hear the OP giving it the horn anyway
I think the driver's window was open, looking at the video, although absent the facts, your point is well made.thewoodgnome said:
...Is there anything else I could have done to avoid this?...
My input for what it is worth! Edited by thewoodgnome on Thursday 22 September 10:31
I think you could have been going a tad slower and been over to the left just slightly more, to be seen and to see better. Obviously I can't see what you as a driver were doing in your seat but I found myself leaning to my left the first time I watched it thinking 'someone's going to come flying the other way' - I was expecting a Peloton of Stava warriors though!
Personally for the bend in question I don't think a horn blast would make sense. The point at which you'd sound it the other car would be too far away to hear and as previously said, banging music etc. On a truly blind bend then yes but with reduced speed and better position it's not really a blind bend, just a slow one!
If I had to use that road 'most days' I think I'd find an alternate route. It'd be too stressful not knowing if I'm going to meet (physically or otherwise) some moron going way too fast.
As for the OP, I don't think he could have done a great deal more. He was going slow enough to stop without too much fuss.
As for the OP, I don't think he could have done a great deal more. He was going slow enough to stop without too much fuss.
Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff