The honking situation in India genuinely fascinates me (apart from driving me insane). If someone's not experienced it, you won't know what we're talking about. Comparing it to France / other places won't do justice. I compare it to Bats using sonar echo to move while being almost blind (I know this analogy doesn't hold exactly but you know what I mean?).

I have seen bikes in smaller town hoking continuously down a straight empty road - probably because they want to announce they're coming and letting kids / other people know they're coming and you better look out (not to annoy you but out of genuine concern for YOU).

Bigger cities have the same problem amplified. Everyone letting everyone else know that they're around, watch out.

I've lived in other crowded cities in developing nations like Nairobi - it has the same traffic problems but not a single car honking! The entire town stuck in traffic and complete silence! So it is possible, I just don't understand what gave Indian drivers the idea that this helps in their driving.