They should've attended a Ride Forever course

[rastuscat]

It's a reflection of our attitude toward driving/riding in general.

In some countries folk are mature enough when operating vehicles to use the horn as a warning device. If they are are about to interact with another road user and suspect the other road user may not have seen them, a small blip on the horn will alert that other road user as to their presence.

When cycling I'd be happy to have vehicles coming up behind me do just that. It's hard to see cars cling from behind.

Thing is, in this country the horn is a thing to express anger. Like "BLOODY CYCLIST GET OUT OF MY WAY" sort of thing. Which is where the loudest horn possible becomes cherished. So we can express anger as loudly as possible.

It's kind of a penis extension.

The only time the horn on my bike gets use is at WoF inspections and in my pre ride checks.

One day we might all grow up. Until then there are Stebel air horns.

[awayatc]

Fair comment..

I see it more like my fire extinguisher. ...

I have never used it in anger.

But IF I ever want to use it...
I want it to work well.

Not just a token gesture

[T.W.R]

It's a reflection of our attitude toward driving/riding in general.

In some countries folk are mature enough when operating vehicles to use the horn as a warning device. If they are are about to interact with another road user and suspect the other road user may not have seen them, a small blip on the horn will alert that other road user as to their presence.

When cycling I'd be happy to have vehicles coming up behind me do just that. It's hard to see cars cling from behind.

Thing is, in this country the horn is a thing to express anger. Like "BLOODY CYCLIST GET OUT OF MY WAY" sort of thing. Which is where the loudest horn possible becomes cherished. So we can express anger as loudly as possible.

It's kind of a penis extension.

Horns were once that here too, just a warning device to alert other road users It's only morphed into a device of anger...
and that's only due to the reaction it receives due to arrogance & ego
once it'd be hey hello have a look you aren't the only one here, now it's: OI! open ya fuckin eyes! or what the fuck do ya think you're doin! or use ya fuckin mirrors ya blind @#%@!
Once the reaction was Oh hey sorry, now it's: What? ah fuck you! or fuck off arsehole!, or worse

And as for cyclists...as an example: if you struck a bunch riding say around the Summit rd of old if spotted early enough a quick toot would have them look for you & then drop into single file....no problems. Now strike a bunch of M.A.M.I.Ls say around the bays etc its more come right up on them as they hog the whole road give them a blast and 9/10 times it instant fee wheeling looking back mouths flapping flat some profanity and a mix of hand gestures.

Use of a horn in this day & age can kick off some interesting forms of road rage and it's all just due to arrogance & ego

[Ocean1]

Thing is, in this country the horn is a thing to express anger. Like "BLOODY CYCLIST GET OUT OF MY WAY" sort of thing. Which is where the loudest horn possible becomes cherished. So we can express anger as loudly as possible.

Horns were once that here too, just a warning device to alert other road users It's only morphed into a device of anger...
and that's only due to the reaction it receives due to arrogance & ego

I'm pretty sure you'll find that change correlates to increases in traffic density. People get righteously fucked off when presented with the results of unplanned transport infrastructure.

And no matter what your reason for using a horn a loud one is better than otherwise.

[swbarnett]

When cycling ... It's hard to see cars cling from behind.

Get some mirrors!

The only time the horn on my bike gets use is at WoF inspections and in my pre ride checks.

I use my horn mostly as a gentle reminder when someone tries to change lanes on to me on the AKL motorway (getting less and less frequent I'm pleased to say). It doesn't really bother me that people do this. They make a mistake, like any human, hear the horn and move back. What really gets me going is the fuckwits that don't react in the slightest even when my twin stebel disk horns^* are right by their window. That's the only time I wish I had a horn loud enough to break their eardrums. The desire never lasts long enough for me to do anything about it though.



^*Louder than stock but not obnoxiously so.

[ellipsis]

...I only use my horn on the Sportster on dark, lonely, nights in the middle of nowhere but only 'cos some silly cunt in the design and layout dept put it next to the headlight, dip/high beam switch, and to the wrong fucking side, so that you have to reach the thumb over the horn to dip the lights...fucking idiots...

[T.W.R]

...I only use my horn on the Sportster on dark, lonely, nights in the middle of nowhere but only 'cos some silly cunt in the design and layout dept put it next to the headlight, dip/high beam switch, and to the wrong fucking side, so that you have to reach the thumb over the horn to dip the lights...fucking idiots...

or is that really because the lights are shit and it's in bat mode using echo location

[caspernz]

or is that really because the lights are shit and it's in bat mode using echo location

In the Harley accessory catalogue there's gotta be an optional extra forward pointing bugle thingee that you can fit to the exhaust? This way when you hear "potato-potato" at increasing frequency you may need to alter course slightly...like a basic version of collision avoidance technology

[Viking01]

Have just come home from doing the weekly grocery shopping (in the Corolla), and was a little surprised
just how impatient some people have become.

Was sitting in neutral at an intersection, with my hand on the gear stick waiting for the lights to change.
The cycle time on this intersection is not particularly long, but you can still get a few cars through if
you don't dawdle.

I saw the lights go green, and literally within one second (before I could shift to Drive), I get a solid
'Beep' from the driver behind (an older gentleman in an SUV) advising me that the lights had indeed
changed, and will I get a move on. Really ?

I did resist the use of an unapproved road signal, but I did then make a point of having a good nosey
in the rear view mirror first (to verify the source of said horn blast), and then happened to visibly take
my time selecting "Drive". As it was, it turned Orange just as I was going through the intersection, and
he followed me through on the Orange / Red.

Must check if there is a Red Light camera on that intersection the next time I go back that way.

Hope that the message wasn't lost on the driver ......

[Honest Andy]

Hope that the message wasn't lost on the driver ......

Eeeeexcellent... Retaliation: and so road rage was born...

[caspernz]

Hope that the message wasn't lost on the driver ......

Eeeeexcellent... Retaliation: and so road rage was born...

It's essentially a silent message.

As a trucker I find it frustrating how few people seem to understand the "indicating at roundabout" stuff. So when I'm approaching a roundabout, intending to go straight ahead, with a car approaching from my 12 o'clock and not signaling any intentions I calmly roll onto the roundabout. At times this then results in the car driver indicating as he/she turns the wheel, only to find their path now blocked by a big truck. Invariably the beep-beep at the trailer makes me perform this thoroughfare at a relaxed pace. The silent message...

If this creates road rage, hopefully it reaches the point where said car driver will consult this wonderful bit of publishing called the Road Code...for some of us follow it

[old slider]

In the Harley accessory catalogue there's gotta be an optional extra forward pointing bugle thingee that you can fit to the exhaust? This way when you hear "potato-potato" at increasing frequency you may need to alter course slightly...like a basic version of collision avoidance technology

Lol, your regularly getting overtaken by Harley Davidsons?

[T.W.R]

hopefully it reaches the point where said car driver will consult this wonderful bit of publishing called the Road Code...

Rode Code That's a bonus extra some find in amongst the weetbix where they find their licences isn't it

[ellipsis]

...back when I got my car licence, early '70s, the Road Code was a fairly good little book with real information and clearly set out enough that it was not confusing and had a few tips in it that were the core of sensible driving. The best tip for me was the one about situational awareness, but words like that were not used. It was just a :Tip:, with diagrams, such as 'look everywhere when approaching an intersection' or other such not very hard to understand advice...

[T.W.R]

This was from a safety campaign in OZ