Your Horn... legal volume limit
Discussion
Someone here on PH said something (IIRC) about horns post 1970 having to have a uniform and continuous sound, ie no tunes.
Does anyone know whether the volume of a car horn needs to be within certain limits to pass the MOT?
The cerbera horn (as standard) is pretty quiet. In fact, my girlfriend couldnt hear me honking at her, whilst she was 5 metres ahead of me doing 70ish on the local bypass... Time to upgrade it, me thinks
Does anyone know whether the volume of a car horn needs to be within certain limits to pass the MOT?
The cerbera horn (as standard) is pretty quiet. In fact, my girlfriend couldnt hear me honking at her, whilst she was 5 metres ahead of me doing 70ish on the local bypass... Time to upgrade it, me thinks
"What is a horn" cried the Showgirl to the Vicar?
Well Reg 37 Motor Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regs 1986 deals with this matter and outlines all that is required under audible warning instruments.
It states that - a Horn means an instrument,not being a bell, gong or siren, capable of giving audible and sufficient warning of the approach or the position of a vehicle to which it is fitted .
If vehicle first used after 1.8.73 it shall be continuous and uniform and not strident.
One is not required if vehicle cannot exceed 20 mph.
Nothing is mentioned about how loud i.e.not to exceed x decibels and I would believe this could be covered under Enviromental Health Law as to as nuisance.
The MOT testers Manual states that it will be a failure item if for a vehicle first used on or after 1 August 1973, a sound emitted by the horn is
. not a constant note
. not continuous or uniform
. harsh or grating, or,
the sound emitted by the horn is not loud enough to be heard by another road user.
I also understand that Vehicles certified by the London Science Museum as being designed before 1 January 1905 and constructed before 31 December 1905 can have a gong, bell or siren audible warning.
From this it would appear that Toad of Toad Hall (ah memories FiF) type 'ooters permissable on vehicles 1906 - 1. August 1973.
"Oooower, I didn't know it was that" said said Showgirl, "I thought it was something else..."
dvd.
Well Reg 37 Motor Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regs 1986 deals with this matter and outlines all that is required under audible warning instruments.
It states that - a Horn means an instrument,not being a bell, gong or siren, capable of giving audible and sufficient warning of the approach or the position of a vehicle to which it is fitted .
If vehicle first used after 1.8.73 it shall be continuous and uniform and not strident.
One is not required if vehicle cannot exceed 20 mph.
Nothing is mentioned about how loud i.e.not to exceed x decibels and I would believe this could be covered under Enviromental Health Law as to as nuisance.
The MOT testers Manual states that it will be a failure item if for a vehicle first used on or after 1 August 1973, a sound emitted by the horn is
. not a constant note
. not continuous or uniform
. harsh or grating, or,
the sound emitted by the horn is not loud enough to be heard by another road user.
I also understand that Vehicles certified by the London Science Museum as being designed before 1 January 1905 and constructed before 31 December 1905 can have a gong, bell or siren audible warning.
From this it would appear that Toad of Toad Hall (ah memories FiF) type 'ooters permissable on vehicles 1906 - 1. August 1973.
"Oooower, I didn't know it was that" said said Showgirl, "I thought it was something else..."
dvd.
UKBob said:
Someone here on PH said something (IIRC) about horns post 1970 having to have a uniform and continuous sound, ie no tunes.
Does anyone know whether the volume of a car horn needs to be within certain limits to pass the MOT?
The cerbera horn (as standard) is pretty quiet. In fact, my girlfriend couldnt hear me honking at her, whilst she was 5 metres ahead of me doing 70ish on the local bypass... Time to upgrade it, me thinks
You were doing 70mph 5 meters behind?
Good summary DVD.
One of our local likely lads has an ex-British Rail diesel loco audible warning device fitted to his somewhat ratty Escort van. Having disabled the two tone aspect it meets regulations in all respects even if it is firkin' loud.
He seems to find great amusement in creeping up the inside of people on roundabouts and giving them a walk up call when they stray out of position.
As Toad of Toad Hall would say, Paarp Paarp!
Remember when that other place deemed those words worthy of deletion by the swear filter?
FiF
One of our local likely lads has an ex-British Rail diesel loco audible warning device fitted to his somewhat ratty Escort van. Having disabled the two tone aspect it meets regulations in all respects even if it is firkin' loud.
He seems to find great amusement in creeping up the inside of people on roundabouts and giving them a walk up call when they stray out of position.
As Toad of Toad Hall would say, Paarp Paarp!
Remember when that other place deemed those words worthy of deletion by the swear filter?
FiF
minicity said:Well, ish.
You were doing 70mph 5 meters behind?
Flat in Fifth said:Yup, nice summary dvd cheers for that. I suppose 'too loud' can be an issue then.
Good summary DVD.
British Rail diesel loco audible warning device fitted to his somewhat ratty Escort van.
Apparently, there is a solution: a toggle switch to change between factory horn and uprated horn, which solves the problem.
UKBob said:
You were doing 70mph 5 meters behind?
Flat in Fifth said:Yup, nice summary dvd cheers for that. I suppose 'too loud' can be an issue then.
Good summary DVD.
British Rail diesel loco audible warning device fitted to his somewhat ratty Escort van.
Apparently, there is a solution: a toggle switch to change between factory horn and uprated horn, which solves the problem.
Too loud? Jeepers; some of the lorry horns I hear on the A55 in N Wales could cause a heart attack. Dangerous IMHO.
.....and then there is always:
www.hornblasters.com/video.php
Any chance of getting away with one of these?
www.hornblasters.com/video.php
Any chance of getting away with one of these?
I recently got this:
www.speeding.co.uk/acatalog/NAUTILUS.wav
Should do the job... i haven't actually installed it yet!
www.speeding.co.uk/acatalog/NAUTILUS.wav
Should do the job... i haven't actually installed it yet!
shuvitupya said:A car horn cannot cause a nuisance, only the misuse thereof. I'm probably a bit too timid - or more concentrated on where I can go when the occasion arises - but I don't remember the last time I used mine on the road.
So, if it causes a nuisance, and someone complains....expect a knock on the door
V8 Archie said:
So, if it causes a nuisance, and someone complains....expect a knock on the door
Don't use my horn either....
Saxo or Nova man would not hear a horn in their 120 Decibel disco anyway.
Have been behind a Saxo in a traffic jam and the music was so loud his rear brake lights were dimming every time you could hear boom boom boom of his stereo.
Verbal abuse is much more effective, even if you are talking to yourself
hedders said:Sounds a little like the psychoblaster on hornblasters - have fun
I recently got this:
www.speeding.co.uk/acatalog/NAUTILUS.wav
Should do the job... i haven't actually installed it yet!
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