# Why do car horns exist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 18, 2007, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195 "2007-10-18T17:58:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/1 "2007-10-18T17:58:17Z")
…Other than to annoy me. Seriously though, is there a single significant reason why they are present in motor vehicles? Thanks, An Gadaí ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/2 "2007-10-18T18:00:07Z")
The car horn provides a means for the driver to alert surrounding people to his/her sense of entitlement. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/3 "2007-10-18T18:03:54Z")
To annoy me and all the folks around me! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/4 "2007-10-18T18:05:45Z")
I’ve occasionally wondered if there would be a market for a secondary horn that sounds like screeching brakes. The current horn is good for notifying the guy in front of you that the light’s turned green. Just a tap. Also good for people backing up into you. Larger tap. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/5 "2007-10-18T18:07:25Z")
[QUOTE=An Gadaí] …Other than to annoy me. Seriously though, is there a single significant reason why they are present in motor vehicles? Thanks, An Gadaí [/QUOTE] Yes, horns are a safety device. They allow one to make other drivers aware of one’s presence. At least in this state, it’s “illegal” to use it to express discontent, but it is perfectly legal, and in fact advised, if it appears that another driver doesn’t know that one is there, it can help avoid an accident. For instance, on more than one occasion, a driver in another lane, apparently unaware that I am beside him, perhaps because I’m in a blind spot or he just didn’t look, will start to change lanes. By honking the horn, he becomes aware of my presence and it allows him to avoid either hitting me or running me off the road… either of which would ruin my day. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/6 "2007-10-18T18:09:13Z")
Like what **Blaster Master** said. Was this a serious question? ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/7 "2007-10-18T18:10:27Z")
…Never mind. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/8 "2007-10-18T18:11:10Z")
It makes deciding on a target that much easier. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/9 "2007-10-18T18:11:47Z")
In seriousness, it’s a way to warn other drivers and pedestrians about a hazardous situation. You notice a fellow drifting into your lane on the highway, hit the brakes and the horn, so he realizes there’s something wrong and can correct it before an accident. In jest, Dave Barry noted that in NYC, your horn may be used only to signal the following 3 emergency situations: 1. The light is red 2. The light is green 3. This vehicle is equipped with a horn In frustration, it’s apparently designed to be a mobile doorbell, considering how people love to pull up outside neighboring houses and honk at 6am, instead of walking all of 30 feet to the front door. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/10 "2007-10-18T18:13:58Z")
[QUOTE=Keeve] Like what **Blaster Master** said. Was this a serious question? [/QUOTE] I have to wonder that as well. I have to use car horns several times a year to signal my location to prevent a serious accident. The lane change error is a good example. I had an 18 wheeler that started changing lane straight into me in the far right hand lane a few months ago. There was no where for me to go and the horn might have saved my life. Other uses include notifying someone that you have arrived at their house or to signal somebody that appears to have fallen asleep at the wheel that the light changed 20 seconds ago. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/11 "2007-10-18T18:19:12Z")
[QUOTE=Keeve] Like what **Blaster Master** said. Was this a serious question? [/QUOTE] Yes it was. I don’t drive a car so that might explain my ignorance. We also don’t have the huge multi-lane motorways here that exist in other countries. As far as on city streets I don’t see them as a safety device as when someone beeps other drivers all get distracted wondering if they’ve done something wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/12 "2007-10-18T18:21:19Z")
[QUOTE=An Gadaí] Yes it was. I don’t drive a car so… [/QUOTE] Okay. Please accept my apologies. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/13 "2007-10-18T18:22:37Z")
Instead of a horn, perhaps every motor vehicle should be equipped with loud pipes. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/14 "2007-10-18T18:26:11Z")
Yes, what Blaster Master said. In the short time i’ve been commuting, i’ve used the horn a couple times to save my ass. And a couple of times to save other people’s asses. I won’t assume my horn was the _sole_ reason accidents were avoided, but i assume it was a contributing factor. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/15 "2007-10-18T18:29:20Z")
My main gripe is that my store is on a one-way lane (the lane is joint owned by the businesses and strictly speaking isn’t a public thoroughfare). Whenever a delivery van comes up the lane to deliver stuff within seconds some blowhard has their elbow on the horn as if we don’t realise it’s a busy lane. It might delay someone for all of 60 seconds to wait for us to carry the heavy boxes into the store. Anyway thanks for the swift answers folks. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/16 "2007-10-18T18:38:28Z")
Old joke: Q: How long is a “New York Minute”? A: The time it takes from when the light turns green until the guy in back of you honks his horn. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/17 "2007-10-18T18:48:04Z")
recently I had a guy with a baby and a three ish year old walk directly infront of my car when the light turned yellow…no he didnt have a walk sign yet he was just smart enough to look at the light, but retarded enough not to look at the car headed his way at 30. between the horn the brakes and a hard swerve into the next lane I missed the idiot thus insuring his kids would live on and with a little luck escape into lives of intelligent people. but the horn did stop him in his tracks. fucker had the nerve to give me a dirty look as well. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/18 "2007-10-18T18:49:15Z")
I used my car horn just the other day to encourage a little white beagle to pay more attention to the Real World. She stepped off the curb into my lane as I drove down her street, and stood there musing on Existence, while I radically slowed down, and by the time I got to about 20 feet away from her, she was still lost in thought while solving the Fundamental Mysteries of the Universe, so I gave a couple firm honks on the horn as I rolled slowly towards her, and she said, “oh”, and shook off her reverie and stepped back up onto the curb. Without a horn, what could I have done–stop the car and yell at her? “Yo! Outta the road, meathead!” Tooting the horn seems more polite. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/19 "2007-10-18T18:51:59Z")
**Why do car horns exist?** Because antlers need replacing every year? ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195/20 "2007-10-18T18:53:08Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] Instead of a horn, perhaps every motor vehicle should be equipped with loud pipes. 😉 [/QUOTE] Or ground to ground missiles [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-car-horns-exist/423195.md?page=2)