Is the trusty vehicle horn now seen as a tool of aggression?

Is the trusty vehicle horn now seen as a tool of aggression?

Author
Discussion

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

227 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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I'm a firm believer in only using my car's horn when necessary. I use it to warn others of my presence, not as a tool to show someone else I'm an angry tit.

I had to use it today. Some plonker in front of me in a queue reacted to someone in front of him reversing by slamming his car in reverse without looking, then heading towards my car at great speed. I couldn't move, so gave him a blast of the horn.

The bloke in front slammed his brakes on (I doubt he would have stopped if I hadn't used the horn), turned around in his seat and began screaming profanities at me and giving me all sorts of hand gestures.

Was this just some unhinged moron who was fed up of waiting to find a car parking space for the family Christmas train, or is the vehicle horn now simply seen as a tool of aggression? Much like an audible AK47?

To be fair, the hordes of dickwads on the old dashcam vids haven't helped matters. They seem to use their horn at every opportunity.

swisstoni

16,850 posts

278 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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I’m afraid mine is pretty much used solely in angry tit mode.
Literally only a couple of times a year but sometimes you can’t help yourself. hehe

Pericoloso

44,044 posts

162 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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I rarely use mine as people react so badly to it ,as OP described.

It's quite a loud one too for a small car.

Fort Jefferson

8,237 posts

221 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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If I were in charge, a horn would only work if your brake lights were on.

If you need to use a horn, you should be braking.

talksthetorque

10,815 posts

134 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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I now seem to use mine solely when I am in the right lane of a two lane roundabout , and I am just about to get cut up by the tt in the left lane as they try to take the short cut with me alongside.

Dog Star

16,079 posts

167 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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Fort Jefferson said:
If I were in charge, a horn would only work if your brake lights were on.

If you need to use a horn, you should be braking.
That's a good call!

Agree with the OP - I never ever use my horn - I really cannot be arsed with the aggro of dealing with some tattooed meathead taking affront.

xtruss

181 posts

211 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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Today I stopped behind a car at a pedestrian crossing, lights changed to green, no one was crossing, car in front didn't move? Maybe he was nobbing about on the phone, no idea, after 10 seconds gave him a beep of the horn, he then perhaps looked up and then started to drive.
Road ahead was clear so not like he's joing a que ahead. So yes I horn is useful.

SS2.

14,455 posts

237 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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I had one today.

Trundling along the motorway in an average 50mph limit when someone decided to manouevre [then signal], without realising I was alongside them.

A toot on the horn from me, and a two fingered, rabid and spit laden series of responses from the driver.

Seems to be the norm these days that 'if I'm indicating, I have right of way', even if their impending presence requires you to slam on the anchors or otherwise take evasive action.

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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I use the horn fairly frequently. Where I live is quite busy and people are forever cutting each other up on roundabouts, drifting across lanes and the like. In contrast, there are also a couple of narrow, blind humpback Bridges.

The oem horn on my car was a bit feeble, so I added a set of air horns. My wife's car had a single tone horn that was akin to that of a moped, so that now has a dual setup relayed from the battery which gives a pleasant, but urgent tone.


It shouldn't be a tool of aggression, but Brits seem to think that it is equivalent to violating their entire family.

Who me ?

7,455 posts

211 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
quotequote all
SS2. said:
I had one today.

Trundling along the motorway in an average 50mph limit when someone decided to manouevre [then signal], without realising I was alongside them.

A toot on the horn from me, and a two fingered, rabid and spit laden series of responses from the driver.

Seems to be the norm these days that 'if I'm indicating, I have right of way', even if their impending presence requires you to slam on the anchors or otherwise take evasive action.
I always find that in this situation, a quick hand movement to the dashcam ,and even moving it to take in their response makes this sort stop and think.

clayts450

113 posts

83 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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My friendly parp to wake up traffic light dawdlers is always two quick toots, rather than a sustained single note. Seems to be construed as being less threatening and never get the coffee beans with it.

loafer123

15,404 posts

214 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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All car horns should sound like clown horns. That would sort it out.

London bus horns are similar already.

Pica-Pica

13,621 posts

83 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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I use mine extremely rarely. So much easier to observe and adjust speed (up or down). Above all I hate it when people drop people off, say goodbye, and then feel the need to sound their horn too!

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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Pica-Pica said:
I use mine extremely rarely. So much easier to observe and adjust speed (up or down).
Me too, I made an exception a few days ago when someone pulled out without looking on a clear straight road and I had to really anchor on. He was so shocked I was close behind him he nearly swerved off the road.

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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Some retard veered into my lane today, Clearly checking mirrors before changing lanes is no longer a done thing. Politely beep my horn briefly to announce my presence and brake to avoid the imminent collision. Lots of coffee bean gestures from the good fellow followed. Presumably he was a Kenco executive... Or just a lol.

Only other time I tend to use it is when people try to reverse into me without looking..

DoubleD

22,154 posts

107 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
quotequote all
[quote=Who me ?]
SS2. said:
I had one today.

Trundling along the motorway in an average 50mph limit when someone decided to manouevre [then signal], without realising I was alongside them.

A toot on the horn from me, and a two fingered, rabid and spit laden series of responses from the driver.

Seems to be the norm these days that 'if I'm indicating, I have right of way', even if their impending presence requires you to slam on the anchors or otherwise take evasive action.
I always find that in this situation, a quick hand movement to the dashcam ,and even moving it to take in their response makes this sort stop and think.
Do you shout YOUTUBE as well?

grumbledoak

31,500 posts

232 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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I think we could improve our country overnight by replacing every driver's airbag with a nail bomb attatched to the horn.

Useless as a means of communication, it serves only as a release valve for angry cretins.

Digby

8,230 posts

245 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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Seem to use it quite a lot these days to let people know the lights are green and they can now stop using social media.

RSTurboPaul

10,219 posts

257 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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grumbledoak said:
Useless as a means of communication, it serves only as a release valve for angry cretins.
Except it's not, as a skilled driver knows it can be used to warn other drivers of one's presence and avoid a collision?

e.g. coming up to a junction on the left and the driver waiting at it is looking the other way and creeping forward - couple of quick toots on the horn (not a long and 'angry' blast) while coming off the throttle and covering the brake pedal means they should be made aware of your imminent passing, stop the creeping and remove the need for you to avoid a collision, but covering the brake and losing a few mph while off the accelerator means you have covered off the fact they may be morons and put yourself in the position to adjust speed and position or come to a complete stop if required.

The fact so many angry cretins like to lean on it for minutes at a time and instantly react aggressively to even a quick toot is simply an indicator that driving standards in this country are poor, thanks to the driving test being once-and-done and not covering attitudinal training.

Edited by RSTurboPaul on Sunday 15th December 21:31

mac96

3,715 posts

142 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
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I reckon that thanks to the permanently angry using horns as long range abuse, more normal drivers are often too reluctant to use them for their intended purpose.
If I am creeping out from behind a parked van, and you are approaching, I don't expect you to stop, but I may not have seen you- please feel free to hoot. It's what its for!