The War on Horns
I’m constantly on the lookout for solid crash research specifically linking horn use to collisions, ideally with proof that the horn contributed to the incidents. Yet, “tooting the horn” is often seen as universally bad. Personally, I disagree. I use the horn multiple times a month while teaching to avoid potential collisions or close calls. It allows my learners to keep going past drivers who should have yielded or stopped for us.
So, why is horn use seen as a negative? In my experience, of all the honks I hear while teaching, 99% are just “You’re too slow!” frustrations, while only about 1% are actual safety warnings—and I can count the real “safety toots” on one hand over my lifetime of teaching.
In my years of driving, I’d say horns break down like this: 40% as safety warnings, 30% as “You’re too slow!” complaints, and 30% as “I’m mad at you” honks intended to show the other driver they’re “in the wrong.”
So, what does the research say?
There’s extensive research on train horns at level crossings, with communities resisting the noise even though the horn is there to save lives. Cars now also have tailgate warning systems that beep if you’re too close to another vehicle, and studies cover these sounds as a factor in crash prevention. Emergency sirens are another story—I’ve written before on how hard it is to hear a siren unless you’re directly in front of the emergency vehicle or when the sound bounces off buildings.
Recently, I found a study titled “Inappropriate Use of the Horn” and thought I’d finally see evidence that horn misuse might actually be dangerous. Instead, I found that this “research” was a survey of opinions:
- 41% agreed wrong horn use causes accidents
- 20.3% strongly agreed
- 32% disagreed
- 6% strongly disagreed
Is it really research if it’s just people’s opinions?
My journey continues, as I uncover these widely held beliefs that every driver seems to bring to the table: that driving is easy, that slow driving is dangerous, and that using the horn is somehow always wrong. Every day, I’m here to challenge these myths and help my clients see driving from a new perspective.
Comments are closed