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Do you think that if someone makes an error while driving or riding their bike that being honked at is deserved?
Put another way, do you think it's right to abuse another person with honking or yelling invectives at them to tell them what an idiot they've been is an appropriate thing to do when somebody has made a mistake while operating their vehicle?
Also, is this even legal?
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It depends how bone-headed the mistake was - if their mistake almost killed/hurt me, then hell yeah they deserve a yell. If it just made them look like an idiot, say they backed over (or bicycled into) a curb, then leave them alone.
However, if they honk at me on my bicycle for any reason other then my life being at risk due to their car malfuntioning, then they better be prepared for a whole bunch of offensive, make your child cry words.
Sometimes I yell at people when they're not even doing anything wrong. It keeps them on thier toes.
Az
Don't know. There are alot of reasons people honk their horns. Sometimes it's just to say "hello". I had to learn to not react to a honk cause it might be an in law saying "Hi!". I also get a short double tap when I signal that it's okay to pass while riding on narrow winding hill roads. After they clear me the do the double tap thing which I interpret as a "thank you". The only abusive honking I've gotten has been from teenagers so far.
Horns are for emergencies only, honking at a road user just raises the stress level for everyone and could possibly escalate into physical violence. The Colorado State Patrol considers yelling invectives to be aggressive driving and/or road rage, you can report the offending party to the road rage hotline and they will enter the incident into a database. If a road user gets enough complaints they will get in touch with the guy, or follow him while he's driving. I've been told by the local sheriff that this sort of thing can be construed as harassment or disorderly conduct, although the deputy who told me this ws quick to add that it would be rather difficult to get someone prosecuted for this kind of thing.
I have to admit that I haven't always responded in a mature, sensible manner to this kind of harassment, if I'm having a bad day it's hard not to respond in kind to obscene gestures, yelled invective, etc. Twice in the last 30 years I've had someone try to physically attack me when I responded in kind to their harassment. The first time was really scary, and I behaved myself in situations like that for about 25 years. The one time I kept my cool, got a license number and called the cops I got a very gratifying response. The guy didn't get a ticket, but I found out that his employer (owner of the truck) got a call from the cops about the episode. I've also called one trucking company about an aggressive driver, I've seen that truck in my neighborhood a few times since then, but I've never seen the offending driver driving it since then.
Don't know. There are alot of reasons people honk their horns. Sometimes it's just to say "hello". I had to learn to not react to a honk cause it might be an in law saying "Hi!". I also get a short double tap when I signal that it's okay to pass while riding on narrow winding hill roads. After they clear me the do the double tap thing which I interpret as a "thank you". The only abusive honking I've gotten has been from teenagers so far.
Very good points. I caught myself almost flipping off someone I knew who realized as they passed me who I was and honked a hello. Scared the weewee out of me, but they meant no harm (we had a pleasant chat later - I think, this was a while ago - and I said DONT do that!!!)
Situational and point of view.
Not my proudest moment I guess, but when a couple punks dropped water balloons from an over pass at me I chased up to the parking lot and scratched their Daddy's car from front to rear fender with with my Swiss Army knife. They threatened my life, they had to explain three body panels worth of damage to Daddy's car to Daddy. Not a proud moment, but no remorse either.
I'd do it again if it happened again.
It depends. If a car honks at me in anger, just because I'm there, then I use my finger (this has only happened three times in two years, though). I have, however, seen other cyclists acting like total morons (weaving between sidewalk and road, running stop lights into oncoming traffic, riding against traffic, etc.), and in such cases, the honks are justified, IMO.
I guess the them I see is whether the honk is after the fact, or pre-emptive. After the facts, when there is no danger, and only anger to communicate, honks are pointless. They create bad moods.
A preventative honk is great, emergency or no. They are great for communicating your presence at blind intersections, for parked cars in on street perp. parking with a back-up light on, when the guy up front doesn't see the green light.
do you think it's right to abuse another person
No I don't think it is right, but it is NOT abuse at all. If he gets out of the car and hits you with a bat, then that is abuse.
Look at it as a training program. Someone makes a bad move and they get a bit of negative reinforcement. Much like using electric shocks to train worms. Eventually, the undesired behavior is extinguished. The problem is that negative reinforcement has some unfortunate side effects and is generally seen as less effective than positive reinforcement. It would be nice if one could click a button and send a dollar, or a flower, or something to someone who has just driven or ridden in a safe and courteous way.
Paul
Diane,
I sometimes honk at people. I usually do it here in central Florida to motorist who fall asleep at traffic lights and do not respond to the green light. I also did it in a parking lot recently when this guy came barrelling across the lot in a diagonal direction at high speed and was on a collision course with me. I stopped to be sure I avoided a collision but I figured that a loud honk might let him know that his errratic drving was observed and that I had not been alert, he would have had an accident.
When on the bike, I yell at people sometimes. Again it is not really an expression of anger. It is more of "be careful" sort of thing. Hopefully some people reflect on their behavior and think that maybe it is not a real good idea. Some people do. A woman in a car ran a stop sign and I had to brake to miss her whislt on my bicycle. I caught her at the light and pointed out what she did. She was very remorseful. I told her that everyone makes mistakes, I just wanted her to not make that one in the future.
It seems the *error* that I am most often being honked at for is "riding my bike on the road".
If I was actually doing something illegal and hazardous, whether on purpose or by accident, then they can honk away, I don't mind.
But I can't recall the second scenario ever happening. And it's not because I diligently follow the letter of the law, either.
On my commute today a car passed between me and the oncoming car. He had no business doing this on a two lane road with no shoulder. I was in the right tire track of the road. The oncoming car had to move off the road to make room for this doofus. I gave him a honk with my AirZounds. He responded with a vigorous pointing to the right side of the road. I vigorously pointed to the left side of the road. Incident over. Did it matter that I honked? Dunno, but I see this car every commute, but no conflict until then. We'll see how it goes the rest of the week...
I love pulling up behind a car that honked at you and hunching down and giving their rear view the evil eye. If you catch their eye, just shake your head like a disappointed mom.
I like when cars honk at me.
It means they see me.:D
I like when cars honk at me.
It means they see me.:D
I thought car honks meant "show me your boobies".... to which I respond, "well, they're hairy but.. OK!"
I used honking on my trike this weekend.
I'm on the MUP and there is a guy on a beach cruiser closing on me in my lane, while he talks to the other riders in his group.
I keep waiting, and waiting for him to go back in his lane. Finally I hit him with the Air Zound, and he poops his shorts, and says "thanks I needed that", but he did go back in his lane.
I noted that he did not sound angry, nor did he spice his language. I suspect he knew he was being a bone head.
NNY
A second comment on honking. It really frosts me when the friendly drivers scare the crap out of me.
You know, pass me and toot the horn and you get a wave.
How in the heck do they think coming up behind me and saying hello with the horn will do anything but make me jump.
NNY
Do you think that if someone makes an error while driving or riding their bike that being honked at is deserved?
Put another way, do you think it's right to abuse another person with honking or yelling invectives at them to tell them what an idiot they've been is an appropriate thing to do when somebody has made a mistake while operating their vehicle?
Also, is this even legal?
This is illegal in MI. It may be legal in other places, and it is certainly more culturally acceptable in other places. A honk and a bird in New Jersey just means "hello" :D
if im driving and some1 driving around me does something absolutely brainless, im gonna honk esp if what they did effected me in any way... honk, yell, fingers whatever i feel like... now when im on my bike and i get yelled at im 99% of the time in my own lane minding my own business obeying the laws so i over look it... usually the people honkin and makin fun of bikers should prolly be on one...
This is illegal in MI.
Is it really? What is a legal use of the horn?
Hi Diane,
Others have responded that it is situation dependent. I agree with respect to horn usage. Although I believe that how the horn is used is also important.
I recall a video from Al--Noisebeam--where a motorist honks at him for a good five to ten seconds because he is in the road. Besides the fact that Al has a right to the road, that type of honk is pretty obnoxious and probably deserves an appropriate response.
From a social perspective, rude comments are unacceptable. Although I have had people pull up to me and ask me why I was riding in the road. They were obviously irritated but said their comments in a polite manner and I responded accordingly. I don't know whether their minds were changed, but at least they had my perspective on the issue.
-Geof
Here's my theory.
As soon as i hear a honk, I quickly look back & make sure the situation is safe.
If the situation is safe, then I respond with a short wave - it might be someone i know.
If it's long (rude) honk then I give a long wave - Heck, I'm not scared of them & I'll let them know it.
The longer the honk, the more I wave & smile. It's worked so far - the expressions from some of the ruder motorists have almost made me laugh.
If they honk due to a dangerous situation near me, not that it happens much, then it's appreciated.
And if they are to blame for the dangerous situatution (like those idiot teenager drivers who egged me along Pittwater Rd & returned not long after just so they could egg me again), then I won't be so polite.
Is it really? What is a legal use of the horn?
257.706 Horn or other warning device; siren, whistle, air horn, or bell; theft alarm signal device.
Sec. 706.
(a) A motor vehicle, including a motorcycle or moped, when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet but a horn or other warning device shall not emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle. The driver of a motor vehicle shall when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation give audible warning with his horn but shall not otherwise use the horn when upon a highway.
There you go
Look at it as a training program. Someone makes a bad move and they get a bit of negative reinforcement. Much like using electric shocks to train worms. Eventually, the undesired behavior is extinguished. The problem is that negative reinforcement has some unfortunate side effects and is generally seen as less effective than positive reinforcement. It would be nice if one could click a button and send a dollar, or a flower, or something to someone who has just driven or ridden in a safe and courteous way.
Paul
+1
I do it because I assume people who drive poorly may not be smart enough to realize they just did something stupid. I am educating the person.
It's funny, when I try to educate a JAM with a honk from my AirZounds because they passed me way too close, they educate me right back pointing vigorously to the right...
+1
I do it because I assume people who drive poorly may not be smart enough to realize they just did something stupid. I am educating the person.
Its funny how where you live dictates whether the general population honks or not. I never honked (Texan) until I moved to Washington DC, where it is used liberally. Now I educate people everywhere I go! :)
Also, talk about irony. I just now finished riding my motorcycle to the bank. As I was about to pull into a parking space, a lady almost backed right into me! I honked, she stopped, and then waved as I passed. Funny how I was reading this thread 30 minutes before that. :)
There are a lot of people in this thread with anger management issues....
There are a lot of people in this thread with anger management issues....
*honk* Do you feel educated about that comment? What are you trying to say? You better watch it buddy.
BTW - Don't forget paranoid.
(This post was my best attempt at e-sarcasm, sorry. Just trying to be funny.)
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