# Stop honking so much! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 25, 2022, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847 "2022-06-25T16:02:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/41 "2022-06-27T10:36:45Z")
That would require the driver to remove rump from seat and walk to the door. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/42 "2022-06-27T11:24:55Z")
I’m not a fan of the Uber/Lyft model, for a variety of reasons, but the facts that you can see them approaching on the mobile map and that they text you when they arrive are certainly positives over old-school taxi service. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/43 "2022-06-27T12:02:39Z")
My horn is pretty much for letting the guy ahead of me at a stop light know that the light is green. Not like the drivers I encountered in Italy, tho - I don’t lay on the horn as soon as it goes from red to green. I allow a reasonable delay, even tho I’m saying bad words alone in my car… ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/44 "2022-06-27T12:33:51Z")
The drivers who get my dander up are those who, on a single-lane road, wait to pull out in front of me until I’m very close to them and there is no one behind me. They could pull out a few seconds earlier, or wait another second until I pass, _but noooo_, they have to slip right in front of me causing me to apply my brakes. I generally don’t honk at them, though. I just shake my head and say _“what a dumb Dora!”_, hoping they are looking in their rear-view mirror and can read lips. If I later pass them and they look over, I shake my head so that they know I’m disappointed in their driving faux pas. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/45 "2022-06-27T13:14:13Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > What does honking do in this situation? Well, apparently, they were not aware of cars approaching the intersection that they pulled out, and by honking, I can let them know how close their inattentiveness was to causing an accident, hopefully reminding them to be more cautious in the future to prevent future accidents. > [@Jackmannii](#): > > On the other hand, if I’ve had to employ emergency braking or massively swerve to avoid an accident, I might just let the other driver know that he/she narrowly avoided disaster and that it might be time to put down the cellphone. One thing I didn’t bring up is that every time _I_, your fellow road user, hear a horn, my attention is momentarily diverted to 1. Making sure I’m not about to hit someone (is the horn for me?) and then 2. Making sure some other accident is not about to occur that might force me to take evasive action. If I then realize that, no, it was just someone “teaching someone else a lesson,” then I can go back to my primary task of, you know, driving. Please don’t use your horn to “teach” other drivers. > [@am77494](#): > > About 2008, someone asked Cartalk the same question, > > If I recall correctly, Tom’s answer was that the honk served as feedback to the offender that she/he did something wrong. And that feedback was helpful in correcting behavior Bah. > [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I felt justified in honking in this situation. I don’t honk from general aggravation any more, although I used to sometimes when I was a youthful hothead. Sounds 100% justified. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > If you find people are honking at you a lot, it’s not them being aggressive. It’s you. > > I honk all the time when I get cut off. If you’re getting cut off all the time, maybe it’s you. Drive defensively, don’t tailgate, give people space when merging, anticipate other people’s moves, and don’t get emotional. I can probably count on 1 hand the number of times in my 25+ year driving career that I’ve been “cut off,” and most of those were when I was young and inexperienced. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/46 "2022-06-27T14:13:20Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > If you’re getting cut off all the time, maybe it’s you. That is frankly the stupidest “bothsiderism” I have ever heard, and I work with republicans. It’s “me” that is as fault when I am driving the speed limit in the right lane and someone cuts me off? It’ my fault when I am turning left from the left lane in a two-lane turn, and the idiot in the right turn lane veers into my lane because they can’t put the phone down and drive? It’s my fault when turning right on green and some idiot runs the red light and nearly tbones me? Nope, not me. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/47 "2022-06-27T14:16:00Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > looking in their rear-view mirror and can read lips. But all they are going to read is “!aroD bmud a tahw” and they won’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/48 "2022-06-27T14:22:19Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > It’s “me” that is as fault when I am driving the speed limit in the right lane and someone cuts me off? What exactly do you mean by “cuts me off”? Are they trying to merge into your car? Like if you don’t do anything their car is going to hit your car? And you have to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision? Or are they just merging in front of you and you’re not satisfied with the amount of space in between your two cars now? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/49 "2022-06-27T14:28:50Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > What exactly do you mean by “cuts me off”? Are they trying to merge into your car? Like if you don’t do anything their car is going to hit your car? And you have to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision? That’s what “cuts me off” means. But keep trying to turn the tables on my complaint. It’s so cute. I was driving my Miata and would have been hit by a pickup that merged into my lane. He never saw me at all. I found it especially ironic that he had a bumper sticker warning drivers to keep alert for motorcycles. You know, like when merging. He got “tootled with vigor”. If I ever did the same, I would expect same. Like when I was much younger, driving my friend’s car, I turned right into traffic and night and completely missed the car coming. He nicely saved me from an accident, and he let me know of my stupidity with his horn. I totally deserved it. My friend helpfully added “you know, no one honks at me when I drive!” I learned my lesson! ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/50 "2022-06-27T14:32:22Z")
I just don’t understand how this is happening to you frequently. I also drive a Miata, and I avoid hanging out in people’s blind spots, or next to people in general. Maybe that’s got something to do with it? But like I said, I’ve been driving a good while and this is just not a frequent occurrence. Regardless, if braking or moving slightly to the shoulder avoids the collision, no honk is necessary. It’s safer to brake or avoid and let them merge than to lay on the horn and risk them jerking the wheel to the left in a panic. And honking after the fact isn’t productive either. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/51 "2022-06-27T14:50:41Z")
And don’t forget the “charming” trick popular in my area. Other driver is signaling a lane change? Quick, jam the gas or even change lanes to keep them from making the move they want to. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/52 "2022-06-27T15:02:45Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > And don’t forget the “charming” trick popular in my area. Other driver is signaling a lane change? Quick, jam the gas or even change lanes to keep them from making the move they want to. Oh yes, very popular here, too! Just this weekend we enjoyed this one. > [@steronz](#): > > I just don’t understand how this is happening to you frequently. 1. Try driving in a large city. 2) I never said it was “frequent”. The Miata even was like 20 years ago. Still made an impression. The t-boning was last week. I also remember that one clearly, Near death events can do that to you. Defensive driving only does so much. Nearly avoiding an accident, while skillful, isn’t as nice as not even having to avoid one. People need to learn to drive. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/53 "2022-06-27T15:04:38Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > People need to learn to drive. Am I imagining things, or has the overall level of driving skill dropped rather sharply in about the last two years? ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/54 "2022-06-27T15:17:12Z")
I lived in DC for 5 years. I’m still not a honker 🙂 2 incidents in 20 years is certainly not unreasonable. When you said > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I honk all the time when I get cut off. It just made it seem like you’re doing this a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/55 "2022-06-27T15:36:13Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > Am I imagining things, or has the overall level of driving skill dropped rather sharply in about the last two years? If you’re imagining it, so am I. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/56 "2022-06-27T16:06:03Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > Am I imagining things, or has the overall level of driving skill dropped rather sharply in about the last two years? You’re not imagining it, Ripley. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/57 "2022-06-27T16:23:01Z")
It’s gotten worse. It was already crippled when schools cut driver’s ed so as to boost test scores. Driver’s ed taught that traffic is a cooperative effort. This Socialist indoctrination was as nefarious as CRT. The roads cleared some during Covid, then repopulated with idiots; which proved that driving skills are somehow connected to the taste buds, and had been equally impaired. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/58 "2022-06-27T19:07:40Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > I watch those “Idiots in cars” compilations on youtube. > There are just so many times where a car pulls out or is changing lanes, and the car with the dashcam honks for 2…3…more seconds before _\*crunch\*_ > How can you have time to honk, but not time to brake or swerve? Why do you assume they can’t be done simultaneously? I typically drive with one hand on the wheel, braking is done with my foot. Swerving is frequently not an option due to traffic or other immovable objects, whether they are barriers/guardrails, parked cars, people on the sidewalk trees.or drop-offs. In those cases, the other hand has nothing else to do but make noise from the center of the steering wheel. -\*Dashcams by their nature have very wide angle, sometimes fisheye lenses; not the best for depth perception . I have one & have looked at a recent incident when I got home & plugged it into the PC; looking at my own footage on the monitor I was almost questioning why I was braking for that very large turkey vulture that _seemed_ to be yards down the road. I can assure you when I was driving he wasn’t nearly that far away. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/59 "2022-06-27T23:26:06Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Why do you assume they can’t be done simultaneously? I didn’t. When I said they didn’t “have time to brake” what I meant was, brake _effectively enough_, not suggesting they didn’t brake at all. The point was, in the scenario I described, someone is honking for _multiple seconds_ and still crashes into the thing they were honking at. It implies they were somewhat slow on the brakes yet the sound of the horn seemed immediate. > [@Spiderman](#): > > Swerving is frequently not an option due to traffic or other immovable objects, whether they are barriers/guardrails, parked cars, people on the sidewalk trees.or drop-offs. True, but this should be factored into defensive driving too: the more constrained a situation becomes, the slower the driver should be going. > [@](#): > > Dashcams by their nature have very wide angle, sometimes fisheye lenses; not the best for depth perception Right, and I also alluded to this. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2022, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847/60 "2022-06-28T01:15:28Z")
If you watch my favorite guilty pleasure, youtube dash cam footage, you begin to wonder if some people are actually trying to hit cars that cut them off. Maybe for an easy payoff. I on the other hand, can simultaneously brake, honk, avoid, and swear. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-honking-so-much/966847.md?page=4)