Lucy W wrote:
I think Hairyben should be reminded that using his horn as an act of retrubution is an offence.
I've seen a copper do this...
Lucy W wrote:
Clearly the danger had passed (if there was any at all as Hairyben seems unphased by what happened). The horn is to advise other road users of your prescence. By the time Hairyben was using his, the other driver was well aware of his presence.
I
was alerting him to my presence!
Lucy W wrote:
Research shows that people are more likely to have an accident in the 20mins following a horn being blown at them or believing that a horn had been blown at them. Some years ago, there was a campaign to amend EU Law to stop cars having horns as it was believed that they cause more accidents than they save - obviously its not happening.
People who get horns blown at them are probably more likely to have an accident, period. Think about it.
Lucy W wrote:
Blowing a horn is not a conditioned reaction like emergency braking, unless you have an anger management problem and are constantly blowing your horn and shouting abuse at other road users who can't even hear you.
When someone blows a horn, I say if you had time to make an unconditioned reaction, braking was not really such a problem.
I had someone coming towards me and turn right, saw me, panicked and jammed the brakes on and stopped infront of me! Ironically if she had kept going, out of my path it would never have been a problem. It was dry so I kept locked up and stopped about 2 feet away and smoke rose when I stopped. The other cars passenger was frantically waving in an appologetic manner, but did I blow my horn?
No I just winked and smiled because I felt smug that I could drive better than her.
If people are so upset that they need to blow the horn in retribution I question if their personality traits are suitable to be allowed on the road.
You & co can say this and that about the psychological subtleties of the horn, but ultimately I didn't anticipate him pulling out, he for whatever reason seemed to think it was okay. Thats an error that needs highlighting, no different from a million others in every walk of life. My nearest tool to perform that task is the horn.
one thing I like about the french motorways (if they're still like it today) is people will flash you if they want you to move over, and everyone does. It's not taken as aggressive and doesn't lead to a pissing contest, it's just someone wants to go a bit quicker and you're kinda in the way and thats it. It's just a signal. you go try it on the M40 though