# I Am Duly Awestruck By Your Loud Vehicle. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 11, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411 "2005-05-11T16:48:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/81 "2005-05-12T17:55:57Z")
All I know is that all this talk of safety and saving lives has inspired me. With all the big SUVs on the roads these days, it’s easy to be in people’s blind spots. Therefore, I’m going to wire my horn so it sounds continuously whenever the key is in the ignition. Safety first, my friends. Safety first. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/82 "2005-05-12T18:05:45Z")
> [@Sauron](#): > > Ah. Gotcha. No probs. It was posts like that that led me to believe that there was some conclusive study done on the subject, when apparently there has not been. > [@](#): > > For what it’s worth, the NHTSA is apparently in the middle of a years-long study in an effort to promote motorcycle safety – in part because injuries and fatalities have been rising in recent years. To my knowledge, they have no data from this specific study yet, and probably won’t finish the safety program for another four or five years. However, earlier reports seem to fault intoxication of the motorcycle rider for a large chunk of accidents and fatalities. The linked Hurt Report says this too, although it also states that invisibility of bikers accounts for half of accidents. > [@](#): > > In addition, a pamphlet on motorcycle safety produced by the NHTSA lists as one of the bullet points something along the lines of not modifying the exhaust system to make it louder. That’s semi-anecdotal, but I’d think the NHTSA would advocate louder exhaust systems if it increased rider safety. Possibly. It could also be that the studies are so far inconclusive, or that they included it for another reason, such as community pressure. It’ll be interesting to see where this comes out in the end. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/83 "2005-05-12T18:21:38Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Pfft. I walk. Which is not easy, seeing as I have to drag my enormous penis behind me. Oh yeah? Well, when I go for a walk, I’m followed by a line of bearers who carry my penis on their heads. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/84 "2005-05-12T18:30:13Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Oh yeah? Well, when I go for a walk, I’m followed by a line of bearers who carry my penis on their heads. Stiff necks they’ll never get. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/85 "2005-05-12T18:57:55Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > All I know is that all this talk of safety and saving lives has inspired me. With all the big SUVs on the roads these days, it’s easy to be in people’s blind spots. Therefore, I’m going to wire my horn so it sounds continuously whenever the key is in the ignition. > > Safety first, my friends. Safety first. After reading this thread, I went and Googled “loud car horns”, and now plan to buy an airhorn-like device for my Sundance. When I hit the horn, I want people to freakin’ JUMP!!! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/86 "2005-05-12T19:08:11Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > After reading this thread, I went and Googled “loud car horns”, and now plan to buy an airhorn-like device for my Sundance. When I hit the horn, I want people to freakin’ JUMP!!! Don’t beep the horn on a pedestrian bridge, then. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/87 "2005-05-12T20:00:37Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Oh yeah? Well, when I go for a walk, I’m followed by a line of bearers who carry my penis on their heads. Why? I just have mine precede me. Saves a lot of chafing. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/88 "2005-05-12T20:46:17Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Not a single one of the loud pipe bozos was wearing a helmet or any other protective gear. Not one. There were 8 of them. The other six bikers had stock, or nearly so, exhaust systems. 5 of them were wearing helmets. 4 of them were wearing jackets. Loud pipes for safety? I’m not buying it. It’s all about being the “bad boy.” I’ve had this one explained to me by a Hell’s Angels affiliate. The same one who introduced me to the concept that loud pipes are about safety. See, helmets are actually dangerous because covering the ears makes it harder to tell when a vehicle is approaching from behind. It makes total sense now, doesn’t it? If it doesn’t, you just need to do a lot more crank so your brain can keep up. ---
**Author:** ![wheelie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b4bc9f/32.png) [@wheelie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheelie)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/89 "2005-05-12T22:37:05Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > Making it compulsory for all bikes to be painted day-glo pink might be a first step. Like [this](http://images.traderonline.com/img/5/plcnad/4437574/79324768_1.jpg)? Yes, it’s a stock color. > [@Larry Mudd](#): > > See, helmets are actually dangerous because covering the ears makes it harder to tell when a vehicle is approaching from behind. Oh, well then could he explain what those shiny glass thingies on my handlebars are for then? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/90 "2005-05-12T23:02:08Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > After reading this thread, I went and Googled “loud car horns”, and now plan to buy an airhorn-like device for my Sundance. When I hit the horn, I want people to freakin’ JUMP!!! Can you leave it on all the time? If so, that would be great! Safer than a regular volume horn! I love safety. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/91 "2005-05-13T01:47:50Z")
Check out the following thread from the Motorcycle Consumer News forum and look at the links [http://www.mcnews.com/anforum/topic.asp?TOPIC\_ID=54963](http://www.mcnews.com/anforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=54963) Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/92 "2005-05-13T12:53:46Z")
> [@unclviny](#): > > Check out the following thread from the Motorcycle Consumer News forum and look at the links > [http://www.mcnews.com/anforum/topic.asp?TOPIC\_ID=54963](http://www.mcnews.com/anforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=54963) > > Unclviny Cool site. Good link. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/93 "2005-05-13T16:23:52Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > Making it compulsory for all bikes to be painted day-glo pink might be a first step. And the addition of some nice shiny deely boppers would help out on the visibility front, too. Hell, I don’t want to compel them to DO anything to protect themselves. I just want them to CEASE making noises that are obnoxious at a great remove. If they’re sufficiently concerned about their safety, I wouldn’t mind in the least if they painted their bikes day-glo pink, but that’s up to them. > [@tdn](#): > > When I made my hostility comment, I was mostly thing of RTFirefly’s comment “Yeah, loud pipes save assholes’ lives. Just what we want.” Well, parse this out with me. Motorcyclists, on the whole, aren’t riding motorcycles out of necessity; they’re doing it because it’s _fun_. I’m all for that part. But then they’re saying that in order to have their fun safely, they’ve got to split the eardrums of anyone within a few hundred yards. Even if that’s true, it’s assholish. What they are doing is arbitrarily deciding that their pleasure is more important than the tranquility of hundreds of other people that they will pass in the course of their ride. If they can’t find a way to safely have a good time on two wheels without being antisocial on a large scale, then they should accept the risk, or find another hobby. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/94 "2005-05-13T16:26:16Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > … What they are doing is arbitrarily deciding that their pleasure is more important than the tranquility of hundreds of other people that they will pass in the course of their ride. > > If they can’t find a way to safely have a good time on two wheels without being antisocial on a large scale, then they should accept the risk, or find another hobby. Just so. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/95 "2005-05-13T16:39:16Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > If they can’t find a way to safely have a good time on two wheels without being antisocial on a large scale, then they should accept the risk, or find another hobby. Agreed. It’s just that the way you phrased it before it sounded suspiciously like wishing death on them. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/96 "2005-06-09T14:10:06Z")
[HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!](http://www.angryflower.com/raaaam.html) ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/97 "2005-06-09T16:02:26Z")
From the Hurt report\* (linked above) > [@](#): > > 1. Approximately one-fourth of these motorcycle accidents were single vehicle accidents involving the motorcycle colliding with the roadway or some fixed object in the environment. > 2. In multiple vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents. > 3. The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision. > 4. Deliberate hostile action by a motorist against a motorcycle rider is a rare accident cause.\*\* The most frequent accident configuration is the motorcycle proceeding straight then the automobile makes a left turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle. \*\*(bolding mine) According to #2 pipes have no effect in 25% of the accidents. You would have to have somekind of way loud pipes to get that telephone pole to move out of your way. #s 6 and 7 would tend to indicate that loud pipes would help prevent accidents. However read #8 The single most common accident is from a motorist turning in front of a motorcycle. Loud pipes just aren’t gonna help here, they are pointed the other damn direction. :smack: Headlights, and helmets will help pre and post accident, but pipes aren’t since the sound is headed the wrong direction. \*What a great name for a report discussing injury! ---
**Author:** ![Electrical\_Storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac8455/32.png) [@Electrical\_Storm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electrical_Storm)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/98 "2005-06-09T17:22:00Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > After reading this thread, I went and Googled “loud car horns”, and now plan to buy an airhorn-like device for my Sundance. When I hit the horn, I want people to freakin’ JUMP!!! Back in the day, my mother had a 1980’s Oldsmobile ninety-eight and that tank’s horn sounded like a herd of spooked, stampeding elephants! She could call me home from my friend’s house five blocks away just by pressing that bad boy’s horn. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/99 "2005-06-09T17:24:54Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > What’s up with all the hostility towards bikers? I can understand being skeptical about the “loud pipes” thing, but what I’m seeing here is downright hatred, and coming dangerously close to wishing death. Where does this irrational venom come from? > > Makes me think that any advice you have about biker safety is pure bullshit, seeing as you’d like to see bikers eliminated. Unless you have a muffler, then it’s not irrational hatred. It’s rude to be that loud. This goes for other folks with loud ass stereos, glass packs, straight pipes, etc. in other vehicles. Besides irritating most rational people, that extremely loud noise isn’t good for your ears nor bystanders’ ears. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411/100 "2005-06-09T23:56:26Z")
> [@Greathouse](#): > > Exactly **tdn**. I have a VERY loud bike for safety reasons. I want someone to know when I am coming up on thier blind spot. Ever heard the saying “Loud pipes save lives”? Absolute HorseShit. Loud Pipes cost rights. 30 years of riding, 20 years of working in the industry, 17 years racing and 6 years of having an asshole neighbor with an unplugged “Hardly-Ableson” have taught me this. Proper safety equipment, including a SNELL full-face helmet, save lives. Loud pipes get you banned from prime riding areas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-duly-awestruck-by-your-loud-vehicle/303411.md?page=6)