Is it against the law NOT to use your horn?

[Jada]

Hiya, could anyone tell me if they know if it's against the law or the high way code NOT to use your horn in certain circumstances?

I just wrote a REALLY long reason as to why I wanted to know this but it all disappeared under a cloud of 'you must log in again' nonsense.

So if anyone knows the answer or could point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it.

Cheers,

:staradmin Jada :staradmin

[dipsy]

I will stand corrected, but having gone on a recent course.. I dont think your obliged to use your horn.. I used mine tonight to warn a cyclist of danger of crossing two roads with no crossing with mobile phone stuck to his ear (on different thing, can he be done..??), so what was the reason you didn't use your horn?

as far as I know I think a horn is to warn of danger...

[Inactive]

The horn is purely there to warn other road users of your presence.

There is no law to suggest that you must use your horn, however should an accident occur where a driver may have avoided it by using the horm, then it may well be seen as a fault on their part.

[iluvmylexus]

you cant use your horn at night

[Stephen Leak]

you cant use your horn at night

IIRC, 11pm to 7am.

[Badger_Lady]

You shouldn't beep at other people! Your horn is there to say "I'm here!", particularly if you're going round a blind corner or if another driver is in danger of colliding with you because they don't seem to have seen you (e.g. pulling out into your lane without checking their blind spot).

Using it to "warn other people about the dangers of what they're doing" is far too ambiguous and comes across as aggressive behaviour. It can be misinterpreted and it can be destracting.

I have sat beside (women) drivers who beep their horn whenever they think someone else is driving badly - this often descends into two-finger responses, raises everyones' stress levels, and sometimes my friends are actually in the wrong because they haven't fully understood the circumstances.

A close friend of mine also insisted on beeping at a Learner driver to encourage them to filter onto a dual carriageway (she was behind them on the slip road). The learner driver naturally froze up and pulled over to let her past - she just stopped behind them and carried on beeping (again, her intention was to say "go on, you can do it!") but it scared the poor lad to death!

[moneyuser]

A close friend of mine also insisted on beeping at a Learner driver to encourage them to filter onto a dual carriageway (she was behind them on the slip road). The learner driver naturally froze up and pulled over to let her past - she just stopped behind them and carried on beeping (again, her intention was to say "go on, you can do it!") but it scared the poor lad to death!
Really annoys me when I see people getting annoyed with learners, beeping at them or tailgating them (when they are actually sticking to the speed limit). :mad:
We were all learners once.

Anyway, the only law I've heard of regarding the horn is that it must work :)

[DKLS]

Funny how we have different views on the use of horns, compared with fellow drivers in Europe. Using the horn here is likely to result in a road rage incident, while say in Barcelona use of the horn is almost compulsary, and can mean a 100 different things.

[vikingaero]

In Italy the horn button is pressed only to turn off the horn! :D

[olly300]

From the Highway code:
"
The horn. Use only while your vehicle is moving and you need to warn other road users of your presence. Never sound your horn aggressively. You MUST NOT use your horn

while stationary on the road
when driving in a built-up area between the hours of 11.30 pm and 7.00 amexcept when another road user poses a danger."

[iltisman]

I think there is no real need for a car to have a horn I have been driving for 35 years and the only time I use it is prior to an MOT to make sure it works.
Drivers seem to use it either to punish some road user for some perceived offence , or as a miracle cure to an incident when using the brakes and steering would be preferable.

[goldspanners]

I think there is no real need for a car to have a horn I have been driving for 35 years and the only time I use it is prior to an MOT to make sure it works.

so what happens if a pedestrian is blind and is about to walk on to the road (as i have seen happen) how will they know they are in danger?
the horn is a very useful part of the car.
im not allowed in to certain factories unless the horn on my van is servicable.

i think cars should be fitted with extra loud air horns.:D

[anewman]

Been thinking about upgrading my horn :D You can get something called a Bosch Airmaster or something?! Would be fun, lol.

Some people seem to use their horn to say "I'm here but can't be bothered to get off my !!!! and knock on the door, even if it is gone 11pm". Or as is the case recently visitors to my neighbours using the horn after 1am as they were leaving with no obvious reason other than to make some noise for my neighbours.

[KeithP]

Been thinking about upgrading my horn :D You can get something called a Bosch Airmaster or something?! Would be fun, lol.

If you know a train driver, maybe you could upgrade your car horn like this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkJwcR21VLk&mode=related&search=)
Sorry if this is slightly off topic, but it made me laugh. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[wolfehouse]

my driving instructor taught me to stop and beep my horn when going under a particular bridge (arch) where there was only enough room for one car and the view of the road was obstructed. she said she always used that place just to teach that lesson.
they have since installed a traffic light there so no need to beep anymore.

[Happychappy]

Unfortunately I live on a Cul de sac where a mother and two humongous overweight daughters live together, each day at least a dozen times a days all the fatties friends call round and sound the horn as they go by the house and again when they park outside to warn the two creatures to start waddling towards the door. Each new little fatty that calls just sounds the horn until the sky darkens and Orca goes out to meet them, then peace and quite.

This goes from 7am to sometimes 3am, so please dont join the club.:mad: