Blowing your horn in traffic doesn't make things move faster

[Lionqueen2]

Why do people do this? Do people really think that blowing their horns will cause traffic to move?

Today we were traveling on a busy 4 lane road with traffic lights every so often. Cars were bumper to bumper and crawling along in both the lanes going in our direction. Ahead of us, road construction work was going on and a police officer was directing traffic at a busy intersection on this road.

This fellow behind us just blew his horn continuously. On our right, there was a curb and there were cars in front and on the side of us. All the cars were stuck in the same traffic he was. Now, how in the world did he expect that blowing his horn was going to clear things up so he could speed along?

 

[Hoodie]

I don't know, but when that happens to me I start letting people merge in front of me. Lots of people. Whoever wants to go. Or, I wait until there is a BIG gap to move forward.

 

[wvjules]

I don't know, but when that happens to me I start letting people merge in front of me. Lots of people. Whoever wants to go. Or, I wait until there is a BIG gap to move forward.

IMO, that deserves a honking. But simply being stuck in traffic does not.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I don't know, but when that happens to me I start letting people merge in front of me. Lots of people. Whoever wants to go. Or, I wait until there is a BIG gap to move forward.

IMO, that deserves a honking. But simply being stuck in traffic does not.

Agreed. Two wrongs don't make a right and this kind of behavior can incite an altercation.

Idiots will honk. That's their nature. I just roll up the windows, read a book and inch forward until traffic clears, and then move on with my day.

 

[dodukes]

I agree, I wouldnt honk in normal traffic but when people start doing what you posted you do in "revenge" I will honk and honk and honk. It might not get me anywhere but it makes me feel good...LOL

 

[The Mayor]

I find that I most honk my horn when lights turn green and the moron in front of me is talking/texting on their cell phone...then I lean on the horn to inspire them to remove their head form their rear end

Honking in a traffic jam just doesn't make any sense

 

[dislaney]

Sometimes it does make one feel better even though you know it doesn't do any good. Not that I've ever done that!

 

[MIGrandma]

People like that are going to give themselves a stroke or heart attack at a very early age. I just don't understand the honking, when there is nowhere to go. I hate sitting in a traffic jam just as much as anyone else does, but it does no good to get all impatient about it.

 

[torinsmom]

For the poster who lets everyone in or leaves a huge gap as revenge on the horn honker, do you realize you are not only "punishing" that driver, but everyone behind them?

I don't honk unless someone isn't moving when the light turns green, but my son sometimes has to remind me that the people in the other cars can't hear me when I am commenting on their driving skills It does make ME feel better though!

 

[KimR]

What I hate is when I'm trying to make a left turn on a busy street and the person behind me decides I'm not being aggressive enough and lays on the horn. While I don't intentionally sit there longer to piss them off, the only thing the honking accomplishes is to distract me and make things worse. UGH - I hate left turns and often I just avoid them by taking a right and then a u-turn.

 

[torinsmom]

What I hate is when I'm trying to make a left turn on a busy street and the person behind me decides I'm not being aggressive enough and lays on the horn. While I don't intentionally sit there longer to piss them off, the only thing the honking accomplishes is to distract me and make things worse. UGH - I hate left turns and often I just avoid them by taking a right and then a u-turn.

Me too! Just because someone else has faith that the person coming towards them will slow down as they make the turn doesn't mean I share that faith. And yep, them blowing their horn just makes me more nervous.

 

[sbell111]

Nervous drivers make me nervous.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

What I hate is when I'm trying to make a left turn on a busy street and the person behind me decides I'm not being aggressive enough and lays on the horn. While I don't intentionally sit there longer to piss them off, the only thing the honking accomplishes is to distract me and make things worse. UGH - I hate left turns and often I just avoid them by taking a right and then a u-turn.

This happens to me daily. I'm turning left, the person behind me is turning left, but there is NO break in oncoming traffic (not even a full car length)...and the person behind me is honking

 

[Hoodie]

IMO, that deserves a honking. But simply being stuck in traffic does not.

I don't do it unless the guy behind me is already honking. May as well give him a reason. It's entertaining.

 

[Hoodie]

What I hate is when I'm trying to make a left turn on a busy street and the person behind me decides I'm not being aggressive enough and lays on the horn. While I don't intentionally sit there longer to piss them off, the only thing the honking accomplishes is to distract me and make things worse. UGH - I hate left turns and often I just avoid them by taking a right and then a u-turn.

Ha!! I'll sit there longer as well.

And I've been known to sit through a green light if the person behind me leans on the horn the second it turns green. I'll honk at a green light if it's been a couple of seconds and they aren't moving, and I've appreciated a honk if I'm zoned at a green light (which happens), but there have been times when the light has barely turned and the person behind me is laying on the horn. In that case, we have a lovely couple of minutes viewing the light.

 

[Lionqueen2]

I can understand someone tooting their horn once if the person ahead of them doesn't seem to realize the light has turned green, but our 'honker' today could easily see that everyone was in the same traffic jam, a police officer was directing traffic ahead at a busy intersection and traffic going in our direction was being funneled into one lane because of construction. When we finally reached an interection with a right turn, he just tore out of traffic and took the right turn. I was hoping that he knew where he was going because the right turn was a dead end. If he was hoping to cut off traffic, the turn he took wouldn't help him out, but I was happy he wasn't behind us any more.

 

[dodukes]

I don't do it unless the guy behind me is already honking. May as well give him a reason. It's entertaining.

Honestly and I don't know how to say this without sounding accusatory but I guess it is what it is....but you are the type of people that spark traffic outrage and altercations...you have no idea what the person behind you mental state is, why add to it "just because".....it doesn't make it right that they are honking at you but why chance an altercation or GETTING SHOT!


There's nothing more that peeves me off when people "play" in traffic. Speeding up when someones trying to pass you or slowing down on purpose to "block" the person behind you.

 

[wvjules]

Ha!! I'll sit there longer as well.

And I've been known to sit through a green light if the person behind me leans on the horn the second it turns green. I'll honk at a green light if it's been a couple of seconds and they aren't moving, and I've appreciated a honk if I'm zoned at a green light (which happens), but there have been times when the light has barely turned and the person behind me is laying on the horn. In that case, we have a lovely couple of minutes viewing the light.

Wow, really?

 

[dodukes]

Wow, really?

my thoughts exactly!

 

[Jennasis]

What I hate are the NY cabbies and other drivers who honk the NANOSECOND the light changes. Can I put my foot on the dang gas peddle for heaven's sake?

When I moved to NC from Long Island I was floored that practically nobody honks down here...for anything. Maybe they don't know their cars have a horn? I've seen folks sit behind a driver for an entire grren light without honking or anything.