Cars beeping horns late at night.

notanewuser

Grrrrrr. I live in a quiet cul-de-sac. One neighbour is a single mum with 2 teenage children (girl of 19, boy of about 16). Every day one or more of them will be picked up by somebody (there are several) who will, without fail, beep the horn rather than get out of the car and walk 5 yards to the front door.

The eldest has just been picked up by somebody that beeped their horn 4 times. It's 10:30pm and there are several small children in the street, plus shift workers and older people. It's only the visitors to this 1 house that do it, and I'm sure they must tell people to pull up and beep them. It's annoying enough during the day, but at 10:30pm in a quiet residential street I think it's unacceptable.

Question is, what do I do about it? It's been going on for a number of years and seems to be getting worse. Had I not been in my pyjamas I'd have gone out there tonight and had a word.

Anybody had to deal with similar issues?

Georgiegirl256

Unfortunately by law they aren't doing anything wrong. The hours when you're not meant to use your horn are between 11.30pm and 7am.

So as annoying as it is, there isn't anything that could probably be done about it. You could try having a word with them, but I guess that all depends on what they are like in general. Are they nice people? Or are you likely to get a mouthful back?

shaun_from_Africa

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Unfortunately by law they aren't doing anything wrong. The hours when you're not meant to use your horn are between 11.30pm and 7am.

Yes they are.
Using a horn when stationary is illegal unless it is to warn of danger.
This is covered by the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

Use of audible warning instruments

99.—(1)
Subject to the following paragraphs, no person shall sound, or cause or permit to be sounded, any horn, gong, bell or siren fitted to or carried on a vehicle which is—
(a)stationary on a road, at any time, other than at
times of danger due to another moving vehicle on or near the road;
or
(b)in motion on a restricted road, between 23.30
hours and 07.00 hours in the following morning.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/made

Get the registration number and call your local police station.
They may well ignore you at first but if you keep calling them something may get done.

notanewuser

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Unfortunately by law they aren't doing anything wrong. The hours when you're not meant to use your horn are between 11.30pm and 7am.

Actually, you're not supposed to use it when stationary either, which they are when they're doing it.

112

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 am

except when another road user poses a danger.
Law CUR reg 99

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

So as annoying as it is, there isn't anything that could probably be done about it. You could try having a word with them, but I guess that all depends on what they are like in general. Are they nice people? Or are you likely to get a mouthful back?

They're alright, most of the time. Don't see much of them during the day. It just seems odd that every one of their visitors does it. They must be telling them to do it, which is at best selfish!

Georgiegirl256

My mistake. I knew that you weren't meant to use it between them hours, but I didn't know about when you were stationary.

I know it's not right, but I guess a lot of people doing it as a signal to say "I'm here!"

I would never use mine (unless needed) in a built up area after dark, even well before 11.30pm. I have to say though, I've been glad of it on numerous occasions lately in supermarket car parks....do people not look before reversing out anymore? I mean 'hello, I'm only driving past you....:mad: '

Georgiegirl256

Have other neighbours mentioned that they're annoyed about it too? I'm not sure what to suggest really apart from maybe having a quiet word with them.

notanewuser

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Have other neighbours mentioned that they're annoyed about it too? I'm not sure what to suggest really apart from maybe having a quiet word with them.

Not directly, no. But with 4 under 3s living within about 15 yards of their house I can't imagine I'm the only one!

aileth

Ask them why they need to beep the horn with the magic of text messaging and phone calls.

Dontknowanymore

aileth wrote: »

Ask them why they need to beep the horn with the magic of text messaging and phone calls.

Was just about to say the same, I rarely beep these days, just a quick text or flash call will do.

mummyroysof3

If they are expecting them then they can look out the window to watch for them coming...no need for using the horn then. Not sure how you can solve this one though sorry as people just don't seem to be very considerate of other people

societys_child

Grrrrrr. I live in a quiet cul-de-sac . . . . . somebody (there are several) who will, without fail, beep the horn rather than get out of the car and walk 5 yards to the front door.

Do you live in the same cul-de-sac as me ??