Why do some people honk back when it's obvious they were in the wrong?

[laurajetter]

I was driving today on a winding country backroad that had absolutely no shoulder. As I turned a corner, I see a pickup truck coming toward me with the entire driver side way over the center line; no room AT ALL for me to get by him without colliding. I figured I'd give him a few seconds before beeping, assuming that once he saw me he'd move over, but that wasn't the case; I guess he wasn't paying attention or something, I don't know.

Anyway, as we are careening toward each other, me hugging the right side as best I could, I layed on my horn to get him to move over. He quickly jerked the vehicle back to his side, so it was obvious he was aware of the reason I was honking my horn.

Then a second later as he's passing me, he layed on his horn too. WTH? This has happened a couple other times when beeping someone. I only beep my horn when the situation is serious enough to warrant it, so why do these people feel the need to beep back? What, is it to "scold" me? As if to say, "how dare you honk at me, you rude nut job". Sorry buddy, I don't go around beeping people for the heck of it, but only if my and my son's lives are in danger, so BACK OFF! You have no right to be beeping ME back, moron! It's because of your own stupidity I need to beep you in the FIRST PLACE"

Ok, vent over... Would feel even better if I could say that to his face. It was bad enough I needed to beep him, but whatever. But for him to beep me back just INFURIATES me! Such a pet peeve I have...

Laura

 

[AKL_Megs]

It's like they have to have the last word. Like, they knew they were wrong, but think that if they honk, you might think about it for a minute and realize something different. I always honk back BACK!

 

[MareQ]

Wish I knew - this happened to me today as well. I was on the highway in the right hand land approching my exit - just before my exit there was another exit and a guy from the middle land - no blinker - just started moving right over to exit - I had to drive on the shoulder to avoid being hit - I beeped he beeped back and flipped me off ?!?!?!

YESTERDAY I was making a left hand turn over a concrete median (there's a gap for turning into a small bank of businesses that are across from the median) and somebody behind me beeped?!?! I beeped back and they yelled at me to get out of the way - HUH?!?!? - I am waiting to TURN thank you very much!!!!!!!!!! I will get out of the way when I can do so without being hit by oncoming traffic!

I don't get people sometimes.

 

[ButchJohnson]

Good thread, I've wondered this too and it seems to happen more than not. I give a person about 3 seconds to move after a light changes, if they are still sitting there like a bump on a log, i give them a honk. Most of them honk back and I'm like, hey I'm not the idiot that can't drive sitting there blocking traffic with my thumb up me bum. Don't get that at all. If I wasn't a nice guy I have to resist giving them extra sign language, but I refrain.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

reflex?????

bad attitude?????

 

[apirateslifeforme]

They honk back because they own the road and how DARE you be on it!

At least that's how it is around here.

 

[Hercules10]

They only honked? Here you'd get the one-fingered salute too.

 

[AKL_Megs]

They only honked? Here you'd get the one-fingered salute too.

Here, if they are really mad, the typical response is a long continual honk, the finger, and easy to read mouthed swear words... and they'd cut you off and slam on the breaks.

 

[TimeforMe]

Don't you hate that? It's a pet peeve of mine, too. Gone are the days when people used to wave if they made a mistake like "you're right, I'm sorry". Now it's F U, how dare you beep at me even if it is MY mistake. I don't get it.

 

[summerrluvv]

...the same reason they flip you off when you honk at them for cutting you off

 

[sorcerormickey]

People are NUTS! I hate driving - I rarely drive anymore. I make my boyfriend drive if at all possible!!

The other day I was driving to Home Depot. I was on a side street waiting at the light to cross a major street. The side street has one lane for straight/right turn, one for turning left. The woman behind me wanted to turn right, but could not because I was in front of her waiting to go straight. She laid on the horn the whole light and was giving me the one-finger salute WITH BOTH HANDS!!! People waiting in the turn lane were LAUGHING at her nonsense.

Crazy, crazy people out there!

 

[Disneyfan63]

Hi,

Because of retinal detachment surgery in 1980 and surgeon's orders, I was forbidden to take driver ed in high school and have never taken lessons. Reading this thread makes me believe that my retinal detachment was a blessing in disguise.

Jim

 

[xCourxCorex]

Wish I knew - this happened to me today as well. I was on the highway in the right hand land approching my exit - just before my exit there was another exit and a guy from the middle land - no blinker - just started moving right over to exit - I had to drive on the shoulder to avoid being hit - I beeped he beeped back and flipped me off ?!?!?!

YESTERDAY I was making a left hand turn over a concrete median (there's a gap for turning into a small bank of businesses that are across from the median) and somebody behind me beeped?!?! I beeped back and they yelled at me to get out of the way - HUH?!?!? - I am waiting to TURN thank you very much!!!!!!!!!! I will get out of the way when I can do so without being hit by oncoming traffic!

I don't get people sometimes.

That has happened to me too! I was on my way home from the dance studio, and I live off of a main road. Coming from the "start" of the road, it ascends up a hill, and turns left. My street is at the top of the hill, so coming from the opposite direction, I have to slow down & wait for the other cars turning left to pass before I can proceed. So, I put my blinker on and slowed to a stop, as there were several cars that I needed to yield to. The jerk-o behind me thought he should beep his horn at me. Um, what do you want me to do, buddy? Turn onto my street and cause a major accident? People do that all the time, and get seriously hurt.

I often feel the need to beep at some IDIOTS on the road around here. One day I was behind someone who was (not kidding) going 15 mph in a 30 zone, and to top it off, in the far right.. I thought he was going to start driving on the sidewalk!! I don't get people at all.

 

[Saphire]

I agree, laurajetter, that would make me irritated but confused as to what the heck caused the rudeness. What happened to you is the opposite of what happened to me a few weeks ago.
I was crossing a parking lot when a car dashed quickly around the corner, almost clipping me. I was so mad I swung my bag at the car in anger. The car then came to a stop. I thought I might get yelled at for that, but when I looked inside, the woman said "I'm sorry". That deflated me of all anger and I waved and said "its ok". What a difference an apology makes.

 

[laurajetter]

I agree, laurajetter, that would make me irritated but confused as to what the heck caused the rudeness. What happened to you is the opposite of what happened to me a few weeks ago.
I was crossing a parking lot when a car dashed quickly around the corner, almost clipping me. I was so mad I swung my bag at the car in anger. The car then came to a stop. I thought I might get yelled at for that, but when I looked inside, the woman said "I'm sorry". That deflated me of all anger and I waved and said "its ok". What a difference an apology makes.

I agree!! If that person only gave a short little wave or something it would've been completely different. I would've realized that it was a mistake which they didn't mean to do, they knew they should've been paying more attention and they were sorry for overstepping their boundary. No biggie since the danger was averted and they 'apologized'. Even if they didn't wave, did nothing at all in fact except move back over, that would've been fine. But it was just that inane beep afterwards that makes them appear like an immature nut.