Recently, a friend of mine was in the heart of Tokyo, walking down the crowded sidewalks next to streets clogged with cars, when he noticed something strange. Despite all of the cars, the street was eerily quiet. All that traffic, and no car horns! It was surreal to him after living in a city like Los Angeles, where car horns bleating up and down the street every hour of the day is the norm.
In Japan, it is illegal to use your car horn unless you’re in an area where sounding your horn is required by law (such as going around a blind curve) or in an effort to avert a hazardous situation. It may surprise you to learn that most states in the U.S. have a similar rule. In California, for example, the California Vehicle Code Section 27001 states the following: "The driver of a motor vehicle when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation shall give audible warning with his horn. The horn shall not otherwise be used, except as a theft alarm system." You can actually get a ticket for using your horn inappropriately. But, I’ll be honest: I’ve lived in L.A. a long time and I’ve heard a lot of drivers using their horn inappropriately, and I’ve never seen someone get a ticket for it.
While you may not get a ticket for using your car horn inappropriately, there could be other unpleasant and even dangerous repercussions. Laying on your car horn because the car in front of you doesn’t move instantly when the light turns green could incite road rage. An angry driver who thinks you’re being impatient or that you’re calling them out could react aggressively: suddenly slamming on their brakes when they do start to move so that you rear-end them, or getting out of their car to confront you. It may sound far-fetched, but it happens. You never know who around you might have a very short fuse or who might just be going through a very bad day, and you honking at them is the thing that makes them snap. Let’s face it: no one likes to be honked at. It can easily come across as an act of aggression that sets someone off.
Another reason you should think twice before hitting your horn is that you could cause a dangerous distraction for other drivers or roadway users. A car horn is meant to signal danger or an emergency. So, it’s instinctual that when drivers or other roadway users hear a horn, they look around to see what’s going on and assess the situation. If you’re simply honking out of frustration, their attention could be needlessly and harmfully diverted from their path of travel, which could easily cause a collision. A driver whose attention is pulled to their rearview mirror because they heard a horn behind them, could blow through a stop sign. A pedestrian, turning in the direction of a horn, could step off the curb in front of that car.
We’ve talked about a few reasons why you shouldn’t use your horn inappropriately (because it can incite road rage in other roadway users or cause a dangerous distraction), but there are situations where using your horn is necessary. One reason you should use your car horn is to warn other roadway users of imminent danger. Your car horn is a warning device meant to alert those around you in emergencies. Car horns are communication devices that say, "Hey, pay attention. Something important is going on." For example, if you notice another driver obviously doesn’t see you and is about to merge into your vehicle, sound your horn to alert them of your presence. If a pedestrian doesn’t see you and is about to step off the curb into your path of travel. Sound that horn! In both of these examples, you’re using your horn to communicate with other roadway users and prevent a collision.
Now, let’s take a look at a few scenarios. When should you use your horn and when should you not?
1. You’re sitting behind another car at a stop light. The light turns green but the driver in front of you doesn’t go. Should you use your horn?
Answer: Maybe. Give the driver ample time to react to the changed light. If you sit there for a couple beats and the driver still doesn’t go, or if you can see that they are texting on their phone and are clearly distracted, you can give your horn a very light tap, just to get their attention. Do not lay on the horn for a long period of time or repeatedly honk your horn at them. Remember: people can view honking as an aggressive gesture, and you want to be sure they don’t take it that way. A light tap will do. If they glance back at you in their rearview mirror, give them a friendly smile and a light wave of acknowledgement to soften the gesture.
2. You’re driving on a single-lane road and are approaching someone on horseback on the side of the road. Should you use your horn to alert them of your presence?
Answer: Absolutely not. Honking your horn could scare the horse and/or rider, which could cause a very dangerous situation. Instead, slow down as you approach them and move to the left side of your lane to give them plenty of room as you pass them.
3. You’re out driving and you notice a friend of yours across the street on the sidewalk. Should you honk your horn to get their attention and say hello?
Answer: Nope. While you have good intentions and are only trying to be friendly, remember that your horn is an alert instrument that’s meant to make other roadway users aware of potential danger. Honking your horn needlessly can be a dangerous distraction to other roadway users.
4. You’re driving in parking lot and a parked car is about to back out of a spot directly into your path of travel. Should you honk your horn?
Answer: Yes. Tap your horn to alert the other driver of your presence so that they do not collide with your vehicle. Again, the purpose here is not to show anger or frustration, but to alert the driver to avoid a collision.
We hope this article was useful in helping you to determine when to use your horn and when not to. If you’re interested in traffic safety and defensive driving, try taking one of our online defensive driving courses or an insurance discount course. Or, click here to visit our website to see the online courses we offer in your state!