I've been driving for 15 years and only ever used my horn once.
If somebody enters your lane at speed, the safest thing to do is to let them know you're there. Swerving or breaking in response multiplies the problem, as now there are two cars driving erratically. The horn won't always resolve everything, but it's by far the most effective way to get somebody's attention in a hurry.
Holding your steering wheel with a single hand will cause you to drive erratically too.
>The horn won't always resolve everything, but it's by far the most effective way to get somebody's attention in a hurry.
That's why it should be possible to activate it with an easy to reach button or lever, preferably next to the emergency lights, instead of a heavy pressure button right in the center of the steering wheel.
You’ve never had to give someone a “hey don’t back into me” toot in a parking lot?
You’ve never seen your friend Ricky, on the sidewalk?
99% of time there is absolutely no reason to honk. People only do it because the button is there and they're safely insulated from getting punched.
Could it also be that in different places, there are different expectations, and different environments that makes people use the honk for various purposes?
I get that in the US it seems to mostly be a social signal of "fuck you", but in Spain where I mainly drive, I've avoided a couple of accidents by honking after seeing cars slowly coming close to my own car on the highway, especially when passing lone cars when things are no so busy. People seem to stop paying attention then.
Then in Peru the honking is seemingly constant, and people honk in prevention when they pass you, like a "just in case" honk. Honking seems to be a way of life there, rather than for emergencies.
Not a thing over here.
fair enough!
> when someone forgets to watch traffic signals after stopping at a red light
I dunno. If you wouldn't blow a horn while walking the sidewalk when inconvenienced, I don't think drivers should either. You're not the only two people on the street, there's other people around here and they don't need to be abused by impatient drivers. ymmv, ianal, etc.. of course.