Advocacy & Safety - Drivers who deliberately give a cyclist a scare with the horn

The other day I was riding on the street, a car suddenly gave a loud honk right on my left slightly behind me, then squeezed past me, apparently not happy that I was taking the lane. Fortunately I was calm and healthy, but I can imagine another person could have been given a start and fall from the bike (I've read about such real accidents), or could suffer a heart attack. Is there a law that addresses this?

Depends on the jurisdiction. Might be worth a harassment or nuisance charge. Hard to prove without video evidence even if the cops take it seriously.

X2. Document what you can remember and it might happen again. If it does, you have 2 or more incidents to report. Police like details.

Generally it's not legal to use a horn except when warning of a hazard or an immediate threat (such as honking at someone who is pulling out into your path).

It is probably the least enforced law on the books. I have no idea how widespread it is but I had the feeling it was pretty widespread.

Anyone who can't hold their line when startled, has no business riding in the street on a big kid bike. Seriously, who worries about this nonsense?

Anyone who can't hold their line when startled, has no business riding in the street on a big kid bike. Seriously, who worries about this nonsense?

It is not just about riding a bike. Whatever you are doing, if someone sneaks behind you and gives you a start, how would you feel?

I'm a man. I used to be a boy. Sneaking up on people and startling them was part of the program for many years. It helps teach important skills. Like situational awareness, keeping cool in startling situations and not being a nancy.

I'm a man. I used to be a boy. Sneaking up on people and startling them was part of the program for many years. It helps teach important skills. Like situational awareness, keeping cool in startling situations and not being a nancy.

Wisdom here. I like to say I'm a man, not a gerbil.

There is a diff between being a Nancy and wanting people to be considerate.

The other day I was riding on the street, a car suddenly gave a loud honk right on my left slightly behind me, then squeezed past me, apparently not happy that I was taking the lane. Fortunately I was calm and healthy, but I can imagine another person could have been given a start and fall from the bike (I've read about such real accidents), or could suffer a heart attack. Is there a law that addresses this?

There is no law that would apply. Even trying to file a harassment charge would be 'iffy', even if you caught it on video. In my county, their excuse, regardless of having it on video is, they actually had to see it happen(which of course they can't). It just translates to, they could care less.

I used to be bothered a motorist honking at me. Until I had become so use to it, that it no longer phases me. Most recently, a local transit bus was behind me on a two-lane blacktop. The bus driver pretty much sat on his horn, but I didn't stop 'taking the lane'. I didn't let the bus driver pass me, until the went from two lanes, to four. He only passed me because of an upcoming bus stop. The moron wasted gas. Because, just as soon as he stopped at the bus stop, I passed him again. The route he was on, would take him on to another two-lane blacktop, so he couldn't pass me again. I made a left a few blocks later.

The point is this. You have just as much of a right to 'take the lane', as they do to honk at you. Just know that motorists' will honk at you. Learn to expect it.

I think some of them are trying to be considerate. Warning me that they are about to pass.
If nothing else thinking this way keeps my blood pressure lower. :)

There is a diff between being a Nancy and wanting people to be considerate.

He didn't say he wanted people to be considerate, he said he was worried about riders being so startled they fell down or had a heart attack. I said that people, who can be so startled by a horn, on the road, should avoid the road. I'm gonna stand by that.

What I'm talking about is not sitting on the horn. It's a very sudden very loud honk right next to you that gives you a start. I am never bothered by constant honking, even in this case I was fine, as I said. But in a different scenario, if on your right side there is a 18 wheel truck passing by, this start from your left (while squeezing past you) could cause you to instinctively moving to the right and be hit by the truck.

The thing is, our criminal justice system for various reasons is the most overburdened in the world. If we start bringing legal charges against people for being obnoxious morons, we as taxpayers couldn't handle the additional costs. There are just way too many of them.

It is not just about riding a bike. Whatever you are doing, if someone sneaks behind you and gives you a start, how would you feel?

Absolutely!! It would definitely be scary!

The thing is, our criminal justice system for various reasons is the most overburdened in the world. If we start bringing legal charges against people for being obnoxious morons, we as taxpayers couldn't handle the additional costs. There are just way too many of them.

Exactly. The U.S. is the most litigious nation on earth.

Exactly. The U.S. is the most litigious nation on earth.

Heck some cyclists want to call down the law because they might get startled by a car horn. I imagine some motorists might want to call down the law because they (thought they) saw a cyclist doing something that startled them and requiring them to blow their horn to avoid an accident.

There is no law that would apply. Even trying to file a harassment charge would be 'iffy', even if you caught it on video. In my county, their excuse, regardless of having it on video is, they actually had to see it happen(which of course they can't). It just translates to, they could care less.

I used to be bothered a motorist honking at me. Until I had become so use to it, that it no longer phases me. Most recently, a local transit bus was behind me on a two-lane blacktop. The bus driver pretty much sat on his horn, but I didn't stop 'taking the lane'. I didn't let the bus driver pass me, until the went from two lanes, to four. He only passed me because of an upcoming bus stop. The moron wasted gas. Because, just as soon as he stopped at the bus stop, I passed him again. The route he was on, would take him on to another two-lane blacktop, so he couldn't pass me again. I made a left a few blocks later.

The point is this. You have just as much of a right to 'take the lane', as they do to honk at you. Just know that motorists' will honk at you. Learn to expect it.



That has not been the experience in PA. The few that have honked have not been attempts to be courteous and have been liable to answer for it according to the codes. That said, I have not chosen to pursue many on it because it is not the dogs that bark that concern...

From a thread I started. I have done this before.

I know I will get negative feed back on this. I usually let this stuff go, but was in a feisty mood.

Rode a fast 26 miles and was headed home in rush hour traffic through my smaller 'burb. Was cruising up main road through town, St Rt 3 in Westerville. We have all had the goofy person shout or blow their horn as they pass us to put a scare into our ride.

Well a teenage boy and his mom passed me and this happened, teenager shouted at me and made me jump even though we as riders expect this to happen, it stills shocks us. Just their luck that they were caught up in traffic just a couple block up and not expecting me to ride by.

I did nothing but smack the back window of the car sitting and waiting for the light to change. Was juvenile, but I did get a kick out doing this. Made them both jump in their seats. Mom did not look to happy.

That has not been the experience in PA. The few that have honked have not been attempts to be courteous and have been liable to answer for it according to the codes.
If the driver claims that he was being careful by alerting the cyclist of his presence because the cyclist "looked" like he was unaware or swerving - what code would the driver have to answer to?

If the driver claims that he was being careful by alerting the cyclist of his presence because the cyclist "looked" like he was unaware or swerving - what code would the driver have to answer to?

It's an imaginary code. Followed by a few whiners and wimps.

Anyone who can't hold their line when startled, has no business riding in the street on a big kid bike. Seriously, who worries about this nonsense?



It's bad enough when a motorist's dog barks right next to me, let alone having the motorist blast their horn. Though not much, I still flinch at times, and swerve a few inches to a foot depending how badly I was caught off guard.

Monday I had roughly what happened to the OP. Two lane each way, me in left lane, van holding down on horn passing me in right lane. Called the West Richland police and the officer I talked to said they would have to witness it to be able to do anything. AND, excessive honking is not illegal.
I guess it is HTFU time.

Monday I had roughly what happened to the OP. Two lane each way, me in left lane, van holding down on horn passing me in right lane. Called the West Richland police and the officer I talked to said they would have to witness it to be able to do anything. AND, excessive honking is not illegal.
I guess it is HTFU time.

Not so much, harden to it. Just that, once you get used to it, it gets' old.:rolleyes: I even started wondering, if all the people that honked, could join together, and play some kind of tune, with their car horns.:roflmao2:

Unnecessary use of the horn is illegal in CA.

CVC 27001. (a) The driver of a motor vehicle when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation shall give audible warning with his horn.

(b) The horn shall not otherwise be used, except as a theft alarm system which operates as specified in Article 13 (commencing with Section 28085) of this chapter.

I'm a man. I used to be a boy. Sneaking up on people and startling them was part of the program for many years. It helps teach important skills. Like situational awareness, keeping cool in startling situations and not being a nancy.

I think you've overlooked the fact that our "flight response" is there for a reason. When you get a fright your adrenalin levels rise in anticipation of avoiding danger. If you've trained yourself not to respond to those instincts then you may one day be badly hurt. For example you are walking down the road and hear a gun-shot. Everyone dives for the ground but you have trained yourself not to be a "nancy" so you keep walking, real cool like, with a confident attitude. Next gun shot, you get wounded.

So now let me guess - you are thinking that if it was a gun shot that would be different and you'd react like everyone else. OK. However, what about the case where someone sneaks up behind you and makes a gun shot noise? How do you know what is real and what is not? You can't know, so either you ignore all real and imagined danger or you respond by getting a fright and potentially saving your butt.

i guess it is "SHOW" time. (camera)

fify

I think you've overlooked the fact that our "flight response" is there for a reason. When you get a fright your adrenalin levels rise in anticipation of avoiding danger. If you've trained yourself not to respond to those instincts then you may one day be badly hurt. For example you are walking down the road and hear a gun-shot. Everyone dives for the ground but you have trained yourself not to be a "nancy" so you keep walking, real cool like, with a confident attitude. Next gun shot, you get wounded.



I hope and pray, that in such a situation I would ensure that anyone I was with was accounted for, keep a cool
head, and make sure I/we were headed towards safety not danger. Been a firefighter, raced motorcycles, paddled whitewater that kills people etc. Surviving a dicey situation can depend on keeping a cool head. Panic almost always makes a situation worse.

Also, I just read where someone called the cops over being honked at. Really? You need to HTFU.

Edit - just realized the was in the safety forum. That's what I get for browsing "new posts". Holy simoleans.

Also, I just read where someone called the cops over being honked at. Really? You need to HTFU.



My biggest peeve when cyclists are told to suck it up at times when they shouldn't have to. Harassment takes many forms, and excessive use of a horn can be grounds for contacting law enforcement.

And my biggest peeve is when fools waste the time and resources of first responders with phony baloney BS.

hey playa<u baked or something?

I'm a man. I used to be a boy. Sneaking up on people and startling them was part of the program for many years. It helps teach important skills. Like situational awareness, keeping cool in startling situations and not being a nancy.

[QUOTE=009jim;14905023]I think you've overlooked the fact that our "flight response" is there for a reason. When you get a fright your adrenalin levels rise in anticipation of avoiding danger. If you've trained yourself not to respond to those instincts then you may one day be badly hurt. For example you are walking down the road and hear a gun-shot. Everyone dives for the ground but you have trained yourself not to be a "nancy" so you keep walking, real cool like, with a confident attitude. Next gun shot, you get wounded.

So now let me guess - you are thinking that if it was a gun shot that would be different and you'd react like everyone else. OK. However, what about the case where someone sneaks up behind you and makes a gun shot noise? How do you know what is real and what is not? You can't know, so either you ignore all real and imagined danger or you respond by getting a fright and potentially saving your butt.[/QUOTE



lol.....nice scenario funny ish

I hope and pray, that in such a situation I would ensure that anyone I was with was accounted for, keep a cool
head, and make sure I/we were headed towards safety not danger. Been a firefighter, raced motorcycles, paddled whitewater that kills people etc. Surviving a dicey situation can depend on keeping a cool head. Panic almost always makes a situation worse.

Also, I just read where someone called the cops over being honked at. Really? You need to HTFU.

Edit - just realized the was in the safety forum. That's what I get for browsing "new posts". Holy simoleans.

what are you a modern gladiator?

And my biggest peeve is when fools waste the time and resources of first responders with phony baloney BS.

Nice response, who are you to say what is BS and what is not.

Well, I'm a first responder, so I know what a BS call, from a foolish citizen looks like.

Well, I'm a first responder, so I know what a BS call, from a foolish citizen looks like.

Well then, is contacting law enforcement over excessive use of a horn considered BS in your book?

Yep, although the OP didn't complain about excessive horn use, but rather one "startling" honk. Than a bunch of silly geese started yapping about involving law enforcement. Which would be ridiculous.

Yep, although the OP didn't complain about excessive horn use, but rather one "startling" honk. Than a bunch of silly geese started yapping about involving law enforcement. Which would be ridiculous.

I can tell that you do not first respond in our area, since your responses do not correspond with any of the attitudes of the first responders that have interacted with locally.

Yeah, showing excessive concern/politeness towards the local wackadoos is pretty much SOP.

Yeah, showing excessive concern/politeness towards the local wackadoos is pretty much SOP.


Something tells me that retirement is close for you, or at least another form of employment.

That has not been the experience in PA. The few that have honked have not been attempts to be courteous and have been liable to answer for it according to the codes. That said, I have not chosen to pursue many on it because it is not the dogs that bark that concern...

Agreed, The propensity, when a motorist honks at cyclist, is certainly not one of courtesy.

I had one idiot do that for about 10 minutes on and off kept trying to pull along side and say something. Keep riding, thread through the traffic and ignored him.When he started yelling pointlessly I gave him the one finger salute and went on my way. No feed back and they get bored. There were two other lanes to pass in - and the traffic stream was going no faster than me either. Ignore them and they go away eventually. The dangerous passers are the ones that really don't like.

Yeah, showing excessive concern/politeness towards the local wackadoos is pretty much SOP.Sounds like your in the wrong line of work. Although you might get a pay raise if you join NYPD, I understand they are looking for guys just like you.

personal insults are a sure way to advance the caliber of the discussion.

:rolleyes:

Most states regulate horn use for emergencies only, but good luck getting enforcement of this. there was that very egregious honking incident just a couple of weeks ago that the riders got on video and it led to the motorist being charged with a traffic offense,

so video might make a rider feel like they've got some chance. I think CBHI rides with cameras for this type of rider:motorist vindication.

isn't that right, CBHI?

video cameras on every ride, finding out where miscreant motorists live, getting accused of harassment, all in the name of a rider's fight for justice.


So, some riders use cameras. I think greater vulnerable user laws with education is the slower, surer fix.

There are a lot of good people around, both on and off bikes. There are a few flawed ones too - like this guy. Here's the thing - this a-hole will honk at many bikes, not just you. One day he'll honk at the wrong one - someone else who is aggressive and violent - or worse yet armed - he'll get his from one of his own kind. Let it pass. You win by letting it pass.

.... Let it pass. You win by letting it pass.

Normally I do, but the last motorist who laid on their horn while passing me, I did not. That particular motorist coupled their horn blast with a deliberate close pass.

For those who pan the use of cameras while riding a bike, my rear video clearly shows the motorist positioning their vehicle in the lane to pass me closely, then quickly accelerating and sounding their horn as they went by. Vehicle description, license plate numbers all clearly displayed upon my video review, which was basically a mental blur when it originally occurred.

I didn't ride on the roads very long before becoming able to continue without a hitch even if startled. I have had 18 wheelers lay on the air horn right next to me. In fact the same guy did it 3 days in a row to me a few years back. Eventually he stopped, either because he realized it wasn't bothering me or because I started seeing him coming and waving first.

My nephew came up behind me at a picnic on a hot day once while I was talking and slapped an ice cold can of soda on the back of my neck - I kept talking as though nothing had happened. He complained that I was no fun, I should have jumped. I told him that if I reacted when I was startled I wouldn't last long riding a bike on the roads.

I agree that the motorists are being a$$holes, but I also agree that cyclists really need to be able to put up with this (not that they SHOULD have to, but they DO have to).

So now let me guess - you are thinking that if it was a gun shot that would be different and you'd react like everyone else.

Hell, if I ducked every time I heard a gunshot around here I'd be crawling around on the ground all fall. Either a neighbor is sighting in a rifle, or someone's in the woods behind the house taking shots at something, or somebody's getting some target practice in their back yard.

I didn't ride on the roads very long before becoming able to continue without a hitch even if startled. I have had 18 wheelers lay on the air horn right next to me. In fact the same guy did it 3 days in a row to me a few years back. Eventually he stopped, either because he realized it wasn't bothering me or because I started seeing him coming and waving first.

My nephew came up behind me at a picnic on a hot day once while I was talking and slapped an ice cold can of soda on the back of my neck - I kept talking as though nothing had happened. He complained that I was no fun, I should have jumped. I told him that if I reacted when I was startled I wouldn't last long riding a bike on the roads.

I agree that the motorists are being a$$holes, but I also agree that cyclists really need to be able to put up with this (not that they SHOULD have to, but they DO have to).

Not everyone can react as calmly as you, I still flinch to a degree when startled, and I'm no Spring chicken and who's been riding for a number of years. Even our states driver's handbook has a section on not sounding in anger or casually, since it can startle other road users, making a situation possibly worse.

I'm a man. I used to be a boy. Sneaking up on people and startling them was part of the program for many years. It helps teach important skills. Like situational awareness, keeping cool in startling situations and not being a nancy.



I hope and pray, that in such a situation I would ensure that anyone I was with was accounted for, keep a cool
head, and make sure I/we were headed towards safety not danger. Been a firefighter, raced motorcycles, paddled whitewater that kills people etc. Surviving a dicey situation can depend on keeping a cool head. Panic almost always makes a situation worse.

Also, I just read where someone called the cops over being honked at. Really? You need to HTFU.

Edit - just realized the was in the safety forum. That's what I get for browsing "new posts". Holy simoleans.



what are you a modern gladiator?

No he's an:

http://miltownkid.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/internettoughguy.jpg

:lol: