Getting ready for your road test is a long journey, and as you continue to practice driving, the horn is probably the most overlooked component of the car. We know what it does and how to use it; however, when is it appropriate to use it and not.
Here we will go over if honking is appropriate.
It May Be Illegal To Honk Your Horn
A fun fact that in some states within the US, like New York, it’s illegal to honk your horn if it’s not an emergency.
So, what does this mean?
This means that if you honk at a car for moving too slow, for example, you may get a ticket. If a cop catches you and stops you, they may give you a ticket of about $300 or more if you honked in a scenario that wasn’t an emergency.
So, before you honk your horn, read up on the laws to make sure if honking is illegal or not.
What Are Good Reasons To Honk Your Horn
No matter where you are, you should only honk in emergency’s cases such as:
– To alert a driver who is going to hit you
– They forget to check their blind spots
– Alerting a pedestrian that they’re in danger
– Someone is about to merge into your lane but does not have any blinkers on.
There is another reason as to why you may honk your horn. However, as mentioned, only use your car horn as a last resort. Don’t contribute to road rage by honking your horn consistently.
Bad Reasons To Honk
Seeing your friend
A wrong reason to honk your horn when you’re doing your driving lessons is when you do it to your friends.
While it’s great that you saw your friend while doing you are practicing driving but honking when there is no danger will cause issues. The drivers around you may slow down or get distracted because they may think there was an accident, or that you were honking at them.
Because you’re angry
If you’re angry while driving, whether you’re doing your driving lessons or as an experienced driver, you will be putting your life and others’ life at risk. This is because if you honk at someone because you’re angry, the other person might take it the wrong way and might step out of the car.
This situation will escalate to road rage. If you feel angry, breathe and try your best to forget about it.
To conclude, make sure you use your horn wisely and only use it in case of an emergency. There is no need for you to get a ticket or be in a situation that might put your life at risk.
