# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**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, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/21 "2006-11-13T20:35:32Z")
[QUOTE=DianaG] Among other things, yes. 😃 [/QUOTE] Well, I stand corrected. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2006, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/22 "2006-11-14T07:59:08Z")
I normally just wave at people I see, and then only if they’ve seen me. Otherwise I do nothing. The only time I honk at people is to say a last goodbye when I’m driving away from someone’s house and they are seeing me off, then it’s a quick double tap like Roadrunner. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2006, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/23 "2006-11-14T08:12:01Z")
No I don’t honk and I hate it when people honk at me. By the time I’ve looked up they’ve gone so what’s the frigging point of it. I also hate cab drivers who honk, wait 1 second then honk again…we heard you first time asshole and is it to much trouble to get out and ring the doorbell you lazy bastard. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2006, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/24 "2006-11-14T09:20:17Z")
I practically jump out of my skin when drivers honk at me, so I never do it to other people. ---
**Author:** ![kimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2006, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/25 "2006-11-14T10:02:12Z")
Am I the only one who loves it with my friends honk at me? I live in a small community in a big city so I often see my friends driving while I’m running errands on foot. If we are both headed in the same direction then often they will give me a lift. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2006, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/26 "2006-11-14T12:58:52Z")
The people who really annoy me are the ones that honk while driving by my house whether someone’s out in the yard or not. Why would you do that? I’m not going to jump up and run to the window to see who’s going by, and even if I did, you’d be gone by the time I got there. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2006, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/27 "2006-11-14T13:38:20Z")
Trained myself to ignore it, since many alarm systems honk when they’re engaged. Also my eyesight/hearing isn’t the best, so in the past when I have been the honkee, I have been known to look around stupidly trying to find the person who honked, much to their delight, so no more. This has led to such comments as, “Duuuude! You must be in your own little world!” or, “Guess you’re not speaking to me. Tried to get your attention today in the Kroger parking lot, and you didn’t even look up!” If I recognize the car and am close enough to see a person, I will wave, otherwise forget it. And definitely forget it if I happen to be on my scooter as we pass. No **way** am I turning loose of those handlebars to acknowledge a honk **or** a wave. Q ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2006, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/28 "2006-11-14T14:47:07Z")
[QUOTE=Omega Glory] The people who really annoy me are the ones that honk while driving by my house whether someone’s out in the yard or not. Why would you do that? I’m not going to jump up and run to the window to see who’s going by, and even if I did, you’d be gone by the time I got there. [/QUOTE] Oh, that reminds me of this one kid who does that toward the house I rent the adjoining apartment from! He grew up with their kids and he gives off a characteristic honk as he speeds by. They smile indulgently but it kind of grates on my nerves. ---
**Author:** ![ItsFunnyCauseImFunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/fbc32d/32.png) [@ItsFunnyCauseImFunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ItsFunnyCauseImFunny)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/29 "2025-06-13T04:46:32Z")
I like to honk at random people that are walking on the side of the road so that way I can make them turn around and think that I know them but I actually don’t know them and I just want them to turn around just to see if they turn around lol 😂😂 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/30 "2025-06-13T05:26:47Z")
Yeah. That ain’t funny. And this is a zombie thread. 😑 ---
**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:** [June 13, 2025, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/31 "2025-06-13T08:52:19Z")
Wow, yeah, I couldn’t even remember posting to this one, but I am surprised I didn’t also mention this: > **[When is it illegal to use your horn?](https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/answers/when-is-it-illegal-to-use-your-horn-signal)** > > A horn should only be used when warning someone of any danger due to another vehicle or any other kind of danger, and not to indicate your annoyance. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/32 "2025-06-13T10:07:05Z")
Yeah, the critical point is that the horn is a broadcast signal, not a personalised message channel. The hooter might mean “hello to this specific person with whom I am on good terms” and indeed that person might interpret is as such, but every other driver, pedestrian, cyclist etc. in ear shot is going to hear “someone (possibly me) is in imminent danger from someone (possibly me)”. It’s a distraction. Used properly, it should be! It means “look around you and prepare to take avoiding action, you are about to hit - or be hit by - another road user.” Distracting everyone in earshot for teh sake of saying hello to someone is…choosing poorly. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2025, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/33 "2025-06-13T10:11:11Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > Distracting everyone (possibly yourself) Quit ogling at pedestrians to see if they’re your buddies, and operate the vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/34 "2025-06-13T11:08:23Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > > [@Stanislaus](#): > > > > Distracting everyone > > (possibly yourself) > > Quit ogling at pedestrians to see if they’re your buddies, and operate the vehicle. - At least they’re paying attention to their surroundings rather than their phone or touchscreen. A quality lacking in many drivers. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/35 "2025-06-13T11:40:58Z")
No I don’t, some people around here do. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/36 "2025-06-13T12:22:38Z")
Perhaps. Not just see someone, but they would be able to see and recognize me, which means I’m moving in traffic at the time. There’s not much point if I’m past them by the time they look up or turn around to see me, or I won’t notice them if they do. There was a detailing shop I used a few times and drove by often. They requested I honk as I drove by in my cool looking car. I did it a couple of times. Maybe they felt good about some recognition, but again, not much point if I they might not notice me at all, especially in traffic when it could be anyone honking about anything. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237/37 "2025-06-13T14:38:22Z")
Rarely in traffic and then only to get another driver’s attention and figure out each other’s intentions. But I grew up in a rural area where you knew a substantial percentage of your neighbors. Heck, it seemed like I was related to half of them. So if one drove past their house and they were outside puttering or sitting on the porch, it was the normal thing to toot your horn and extend a wave. _There were no other cars around_. It was farm country. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-honk-your-horn-when-you-see-people-you-know/380237.md?page=1)