# Do You honk your horn when you see people you know? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 13, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237 "2006-11-13T14:37:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/1 "2006-11-13T14:37:26Z")
So I’ve noticed that there is a distinct subset of people who honk their car horns as a greeting when they pass by people they know. I almost never use my horn, unless another driver is doing somthing particularly egregious, so I never do this. In fact, it kind of freaks me out when some of my friends honk at me, since I view honking as a somewhat aggressive act. Do you do this? Why or why not? How do you feel about people who honk at you when you’re walking down the street? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/2 "2006-11-13T14:41:52Z")
I don’t and I hate it almost as much as I hate people who stop their cars in the middle of a pedestrian pass to chat with some pedestrian they happen to know. I live in a town where most streets are single-lane, so the chit-chatters do get honked often. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/3 "2006-11-13T14:51:33Z")
I haaaaaaaate honkers. In my opinion, there is one, and only one good reason to use your car horn, which is to alert either a pedestrian or the driver of another moving vehicle to your presence, which they appear not to have noticed, thus presenting a clear and present danger. The car horn is NOT for greetings. It is NOT to express your dissatisfaction at whatever traffic jam you find yourself in. It is NOT for alerting the person you’ve arrived to pick up of your presence, _because no one else in the neighborhood cares_. I have a real thing about unnecessary noise. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/4 "2006-11-13T14:54:44Z")
I live in a small country town, where lots of people know me. Some of them honk when driving by, but usually I can’t see who they are (through a sunlit windscreen moving at 30 miles / hour). So I wish they wouldn’t do it, because that’s not what a car horn is for. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/5 "2006-11-13T14:59:33Z")
Nope, never. And when I am out as a pedestrian, I also never wave and probably won’t even look up if someone drives past honking. Even in bright daylight, there isn’t usually time to discern the identity of the honker in time to react, and since there are plenty of idiots who honk complete strangers just to see them wave in confusion, I’m not going to wave unless I have discerned their identity, so I deliberately don’t bother even trying. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/6 "2006-11-13T15:14:17Z")
I’ve done it once when I saw a friend walking in the same direction I was going when traffic wasn’t heavy–I don’t get to see him often and it was nice to have any chance to say ‘Hi’ to him. Not sure if he recognised me, but he definitely recognised the car (dark blue car with bright pink stripes–hard to miss). Generally I don’t use my horn at all though, maybe once in a while when I’m passing another vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/7 "2006-11-13T15:31:31Z")
Well, I live in an area where people almost always know the vehicle and can identify the driver, or at the very least the family of the driver. So recognition isn’t a problem. That said, I don’t generally honk, but honking doesn’t bother me. I have honked in specific instances. Once, Mr. Stuff was waaaaay back in a field with the three-wheeler, where the truck couldn’t go, and an emergency phone call came in that he really needed to return. So I drove the farm truck as far as it could go, stood on the running board, and laid on the horn with my knee while waving my arms like a mad woman. Probably one of the neighbors heard and was disturbed, but I didn’t waste time worrying about it. We’re used to occasional gunfire out here, and a horn isn’t going to get anybody bent out of shape. I also once honked repeatedly at my mother. She was supposed to pick up my niece and had forgotten. The school called me to get her, and I was on my way to my mom’s house when I passed my mom, looking frantic. I honked a few times, she saw us, and turned around. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/8 "2006-11-13T16:15:02Z")
People around here mostly wave at each other. The waving extends to people you know less as your location gets further out into the country (on your street, wave at every resident, whether or not you’ve ever talked to them–on a ranch, just wave at everyone–but of course in town you’d only wave at people you know). ---
**Author:** ![wasson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4da419/32.png) [@wasson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wasson)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/9 "2006-11-13T16:44:14Z")
This is going to be a popular opinion, I can tell. I use my horn whenever I feel like it. Sometimes I use it driving down the highway, honking to the beat of the music. Usually not when there’s cars around, though. So yes, I lay on my horn when people cut me off, and I keep honking for an absurd amount of time so they know they cut me off. And I honk when people are taking too long to turn when traffic is clear. I honk pretty much anytime I see another driver doing something I wouldn’t do. And yes, I honk when I see people I know walking or driving or in their yards. It’s usually just a very light tap. I assume they don’t care, because they look pretty happy to see me and wave. Maybe I’m pissing them off, but I look at it as a friendly gesture. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/10 "2006-11-13T16:48:15Z")
People around here honk and holler at pedestrians whether they know them or not. I once started a thread on this bizarre phenomenon. I don’t know if it’s because the sight of someone walking is considered to be so bizarre that people have to punctuate the experience with a honk of surprise or if it’s just become some sort of cultural habit. People also roll down their windows to shout at pedestrians, even if it’s just a loud “Hey!” If they happen to be at a red light and a pedestrian walks by, there seems to be some _compulsion_ to roll down the window and speak to them, even if they have nothing to say. (“Hey! Walking your dog, huh?”) It’s actually the main reason I stopped walking to work even though I live so close to my workplace that driving is actually a bit embarassing. I got tired of being honked and hooted at. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/11 "2006-11-13T16:56:28Z")
The only time I do it, is on a non busy road when I pass by my autistic cow-orker. I really lay on the horn, it’s one of the only situations he really doesn’t know how to react to.\* He’s got a quick quirky remark for just about anything but 5 seconds of screeching horn. He tries to pretent not to hear it, but that’s rather difficult. \*Provided he’s not having one of his classic melt downs where he can’t handle much of anything. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/12 "2006-11-13T17:48:24Z")
I will honk on very specific occasions - Rarely when someone cuts me off, and I only do it when it’s obvious they did so completely maliciously or they genuinely endangered my life. Yeah, you can have a little aggravation in your life considering how much you caused me. - A light tap if you wait too long at the light, and I will wait for several seconds before I do this. Oftentimes you can even see that the driver up ahead is not looking at the light. - And I’ll honk at those annoying people who stop in the middle of the street to talk to another person in another car going the opposite way, thus blocking up the whole stree. I don’t really care if you’re only there for a minute, which it never is. Get out of the damn road. I hate honkers otherwise. I hate people who lay on the horn. It doesn’t do anything. And this is upstate, not NYC - take your nasty driving habits back down there. We have our own nasty habits, thank you very much. I hate people who honk at pedestrians and worse, shout at pedestrians. I don’t know what you’re saying, you’ve gone by too fast to hear. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/13 "2006-11-13T17:53:30Z")
[QUOTE=wasson] Sometimes I use it driving down the highway, honking to the beat of the music. Usually not when there’s cars around, though. [/QUOTE] Please for the love of pete say you’re joking. :eek: Anyhoo, I never use my horn, because no one around here does and it would be rude. I might wave and hope they see me but if it doesn’t look like they will I don’t worry about it. ---
**Author:** ![InappropriateHumor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eb8c5e/32.png) [@InappropriateHumor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InappropriateHumor)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/14 "2006-11-13T18:02:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*Emilio Lizardo \*\* > > Do You honk your horn when you see people you know? No, I don’t normally honk at people I know. Since it startles the daylights out of me when someone honks at me, I let myself be guided by the Golden Rule on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/15 "2006-11-13T18:19:05Z")
Absolutely not. I only honk when someone doesn’t seem to be aware of what’s going on around them as DianaG said. My husband is a honker and it makes me insane. There are times when he’ll reach over when I’m driving and hit the horn. I have informed him that if this behavior continues there will be a divorce in his future. ---
**Author:** ![StinkyBurrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@StinkyBurrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StinkyBurrito)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/16 "2006-11-13T18:28:03Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Please for the love of pete say you’re joking. :eek: [/QUOTE] I doubt he is joking. I have been known to do this as well. It is fun. Also, why not just honk softly when you want to say hello… or am I the only person who can do this? And to the people who keep saying “That is NOT what a horn is for”, what are you, some kind of horn expert? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/17 "2006-11-13T18:47:52Z")
[QUOTE=StinkyBurrito] And to the people who keep saying “That is NOT what a horn is for”, what are you, some kind of horn expert? [/QUOTE] Among other things, yes. 😃 **Missy2U** , if that were me, there’d be a \*hook \* in his future. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/18 "2006-11-13T19:00:27Z")
[QUOTE=DianaG] **Missy2U** , if that were me, there’d be a \*hook \* in his future. [/QUOTE] I second this sentiment! Don’t touch my wheel while I’m driving unless you want to pull back a stump. I did think of one other instance where I honk. If someone is standing on the corner for the express purpose of entertaining cars. Like a mascot for some company, for example, waving to cars. I’ll double-tap the horn - beep beep! to say hi, sort of, and to just give a gesture of appreciation to someone who’s doing a very boring and slightly embarrassing job. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/19 "2006-11-13T19:17:20Z")
Not a honker, here. How do you honk _softly_? My horn has two settings: off and honk. The only time I use the horn is when somebody is about to do/is doing something rash or dangerous and is about to put my life and car in jeopardy. My huband does a quick honk-honk if we’re driving through a parking lot and someone’s backing out of a space without looking. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/20 "2006-11-13T19:51:16Z")
I NEVER see people I know while driving. I honestly don’t know what I’d do, but my educated guess is that I’d roll down the window and yell, not honk… Joe [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237.md?page=2)