Another misuse of the horn is when someone arrives to take a neighbour to work at 2 am and instead of getting out of the vehicle and knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell they sound their horn. They could also phone them from inside the vehicle instead waking up people like myself who has a sleep disorder.
My neighbours work van gives a double tap of the horn when locking/unlocking. Presumably controlled by an aftermarket immobiliser. Mine beeps quite loudly in the same scenario so can't complain too much but the horn definitely travels further and through walls more clearly (by design of course)
@@ibs5080 I anonymously sent them a letter in the post outling the situation and included an extract from Highway Code about use of the horn between 23:30 - 07:00 hours.
My mate does this, in the past he has occasionally given me a lift home late at night, I get out to go in my front door and just as he pulls away he beeps the horn as if to say goodbye. And I wince every time he does it, [he doesn’t do it every time so is unpredictable, either way now won’t accept a lift off of him late at night]
The biggest issue with the horn is the same as a flash of the lights, theres often no clarity of who it was meant for. Obviously in the reprimand scenarios this can be quite clear for everyone involved, but a generic honk in a busy place, no idea of source or target then has me looking everywhere for something i might have missed (which in turn might make me miss something else, i recognise). Could be an actual danger, could be someone saying hi to a friend theyve seen on the pavement, could be anything.
My dad has always tried to discourage me from using it because he thinks it can make the situation more dangerous since it distracts drivers and will often startle them.
A few excessive horn uses there but also some nice friendly “I am here” taps of the horn. Having learned most of my driving in the countryside the horn was a useful extension of being seen, a bap before a blind corner, or a pip to someone emerging from behind an untrimmed hedge, and was always greeted with a thimbs up or friendly wave. I then started a commute into London, and would give a friendly pip of the horn to someone emerging from behind a parked bus and would be greeting with a stare, a shake of the hand or a shrug of the shoulders as if to say “What?!” Two similar scenarios treated as polar opposites because of the perceived nature of horn use
I agree with the countryside element, on my daily commute I go across several blind one-way bridges with no priority, so I will always pip the horn just to make any potential vehicles on the other side aware of my presence. Having had it done for me as well, it saves time and makes life much easier for all parties involved
Key observation from those clips. Most drivers brake when they hear a horn behind them. So always be aware and as always, NEVER compromise your forward stopping space. Slow quickly if you get cut off… especially if you are about to risk startling or irritating the driver who did it!
right. sensible drivers interpret a horn as a warning danger is coming, so their natural reaction is to stop until they've sorted out the source. yet you see so many dashcammers blare the horn at someone who wouldn't have been in the way, until they stopped in response to the horn.
@@kenbrown2808 I know of a case a older driver believing the horn was someone urging him to move ( had to give way but was taking some time) result was a cyclist getting involved. The horn was actually to warn the driver for the presence of the cyclist on a poorly designed crossing.
I was driving at night (in the US) once and there was a car with it's right turn signal on driving slowly through some stoplights. I assumed he was looking for the McDonalds on the right past the light for the exit-ramp of the highway. However he made a mistake and turned up the exit-ramp and began heading toward the wrong way of a fast highway. I gave a few (not light) beeps of the horn and he stopped and proceeded to turn around. In that instance the horn was necessary as it would've been minutes to call the police and for them to arrive, whereas a fatal crash could've been only seconds later.
The only time i was honked at was when i fully stalled my car (one of the brakes didn't fully retract immediately as the dust/water cover of it was broken and rust and dirt made it run anything but smooth. It was when i was first in line in front of a red light. Only 2 cars went through green that cycle, me and the guy beeping behind me. It's been fixed long ago and now it doesn't happen anymore.
Sometimes, you may need to use the horn even when you're in the wrong. If it prevents an incident, then you used it correctly, even if you messed up. Never take horn use personally. Even if it's a clear reprimand, it's likely they have other stresses in their life, and often not meant personally. If you think you might have messed up and been hooted at, no problem if no incident, but learn from it. There's no time for the retaliative mentality (only increases risk), and no-one will give a hoot anyway. Most likely, no-one will know who you are, or how important your car is. And no-one will care. They just want to get where they're going, patiently or impatiently.
I've been driving for nearly 20 years and have used the horn probably fewer than 10 times. The most recent was just a couple of weeks ago when I was being overtaken very slowly on the dual carriageway. The other car then basically sat alongside me as I approached another slower-moving vehicle. I looked across and saw the other driver was texting and as tempted as I was to give an angry blare I just gave 2 taps to wake them up (and hopefully get them to put the phone away.)
I once drove into a busy supermarket car park and spotted a car reversing out of a space that I decided I wanted. I went forward to position myself to nab his soon to be vacated space and plonked myself right in his left side rear blind spot. He carefully reversed out towards me. I couldn’t reverse to get out of his way as there were cars behind me. So I hooted. He continued to reverse carefully so I hooted again. And again a third time more frantically. I felt a right fool for having got myself into such a stupid position. He got out of his car to see what the hooting fuss was about and thankfully he saw the funny side of my embarrassment and we parted very amicably.
That BMW blocking the round about is standard practice in the midlands. It's rare that a person doesn't do this. Even with hatched boxes and "keep clear" road markings.
I've noticed a growing trend, especially in London, when one vehicle sounds it's horn, the other vehicle will sound it's horn back. Often the two motorists will go back and forth with the horn at each other as if it's some sort of competition that determines who was in the right. It can be very annoying to everyone else around though, especially when these incidents keep repeating.
Nice to see the woman getting out of the car give up on her argument once you made a valid point. So many people continue trying to argue because they can't be proven wrong no matter what! Thats someone who should hopefully learn from their mistakes.
I've been driving for over 10 years and I don't remember ever using my horn. I'm one of those weird drivers who, when someone pulls out in front of meo or cuts me up, goes for the brake first instead of pressing the horn.
I have been driving nearly 5 years now and can probably count on one hand how many times i have used the horn. The thing is at the time you are supposed to use it i always find i am busy doing other things like braking or moving to avoid someone not paying attention. No point in beeping after.
The clip at around 1:20 is a good example of how some drivers take great offence at a brief sounding of horn. For this very reason, regrettably I'm sometimes reluctant to use the horn even if it was the correct and advisable thing to do.
I had a similar issue a few weeks ago, but I was in lane 2, and the driver in lane 1 decided to straight line the roundabout whilst I was beside them. And the response to my toot on the horn was them then deliberately pulling ahead, pulling out onto the lane divider, and then trying to brake check me multiple times. Considering I saved them all the hassle of having to pay to fix their car and mine, not a great response.
2:00 why the people who argue that looking at your phone while stationary is OK are wrong. The driver reacts to the beep and accelerates without even checking it's safe.
There’s no proof he was on his phone. He could’ve just zoned out. Couldn’t been staring at a bird at a tree who knows. Don’t presume someone is guilty based on assumptions
My horn get used twice a day on weekdays and sometimes once a day on weekends. Once every morning when I do my vehicle checks, and once on a blind humpback bridge on my way to work. I don’t use my horn, if I have to I’ve been a bad driver and put myself in a bad situation.
I very rarely use my horn to be honest, the last time I used it was about 6 weeks ago, when a numpty in a Corsa cut straight across the front of my car on a spiral roundabout. I missed it by millimetres after giving the ABS a good workout.
I know you shouldn't use the horn aggressively but last week I was tailgated by a Leon FR and overtaken in an insane place, a road which is too narrow for cars to pass where there are parked cars on both sides. He overtook me where there was a longish gap. That was bad enough, but it turned out his mate in a Golf GTI was following and he did the same, leaving even less room until the road narrowed. Sometimes it's hard to stop yourself doing it aggressively...
0:10 'only use while your vehicle is moving' - You are sitting in a car park, and car reverses out of a bay towards a child, they have not seen said child, and continue to reverse.... by using your horn to warn of this, you are breaking HC112... 112 has to be flexible
I was at a roadworks and the car in front nearly reversed into me, trying to let a car out of a driveway he blocked. I couldn't reverse to help because the car behind me was WAY too close, so I used the horn because I didn't think he was looking where he was going.
I nearly had someone back into me while I was parked today. Using the horn prevented that my car from being totaled. Rules need to be made with context in mind.
@gareth14111984 I'll grant you the Highway Code is badly constructed with some of the wording (not the first time nor the last time we will here / read that) which I think is where you were coming from on this one, however the underlying legislation is apparently clear "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 - stationary on a road, at any time, other than at times of danger due to another moving vehicle on or near the road - in motion on a restricted road, between 23.30 hours and 07.00 hours in the following morning" More conversations to -never- be had within the DVSA about the Highway Code wording 😉
Had a situation where a vehicle in the right-hand lane tried to move into the space my son was occupying in the left-hand lane as we moved off from traffic lights. The other driver went ballistic. When we got to the next set of lights, we were expecting the other driver to get out and start mouthing off, but they saw sense. Which was a shame, because we were outside the police station where my son is based.
I drive regularly on the junction at 2:00 and am often in this exact situation. Those lights can take a very long time to change so people take it as an excuse to switch off. Good to see I'm not misguided using the horn Ashley!
I'll be honest, the main reason I've used the horn isn't because of other drivers, cyclists, or even pedestrians. It's mainly been because of seagulls thinking the road is a suitable place to fight over someone's chips, and ignore everything else around them. Slowing right down and a quick pap is usually enough to get them flying out of the way
Pigeons are the worst. Magpies, crows, seagulls; they all seem to have enough awareness to move out of the way, especially when you use the horn. Pigeons however... They just want to die, not even the horn is enough to move them.
As a bus driver ive never understood the horn. If im in a situation where someone cuts me up or nearly causes an accident im too busy concentrating and dealing with the problem not looking for the horn and thinking about insults.
Ive been driving since 2019. I think I only used my horn twice. Similar to the 2nd clip, car stationary at traffic light was green. Clearly not paying attention. So beeped to make them aware. 2nd time, was driving over a bridge that was a single file and a blind elevation. I just beeped to simply let someone know that I was coming over.
Hardly ever use it, use the bell on my bike a lot but not the horn on my car. Probably last used it to alert the driver in front that the lights had changed, or when the car reversing toward me may not have seen me.
I think that a flash of the lights is less aggressive when someone does something they shouldn't. I know either shouldn't be used for this purpose but sometime people DO need to know they have done (or are doing) something dangerous. If my life and/or my car are in serious peril, then I've no qualms to use the horn for as long as I feel it is needed. Example. I was driving south down the M6 and moved into the 3rd lane to pass a car in the 2nd lane that was doing 65. There was a van slowly closing in the 3rd lane, but there was plenty of room for me to pass the car before they caught up. Except that the rocked up quick sharp and proceeded to tailgate me (mere feet behind). Normally I'd have pulled back into lane 2 and let them go but the car I'd just passed was now in my blind spot doing 70 alongside the van. Choice - speed up (and break the speed limit) or sound the horn until someone behind saw sense and backed off a bit. It must have been blaring for a good 20 seconds before the 2nd lane car backed off and let me change lanes.
I think a lot of long horns are more because of people freezing up a little during the sudden high stress situation. I don't think they all intend it to turn into a reprimand, its just hard to take your hand off the horn quickly when in that situation. I think you'd find a lot of peoples horn length is equivalent to the amount of time they're braking. Ultimately, a short toot would be better of course.
I have commented this before, but at a junction with lights at red , immediately after another junction with a filter green light to go forward, I got beeped from behind and this confused me into thinking it was another filter, so I moved forward and had to brake to avoid a collision with a car emerging from the left. Turned out , the car was beeping , I think, to draw attention to someone on the pavement.
I stopped to give way to someone at a zebra crossing but the pedestrian (on the right hand side of the crossing as I was looking) was on their phone showing no sign of crossing so as I moved the car behind beeped (don’t know if it was for me or the pedestrian) but they looked up from the phone and started to cross. It woke the pedestrian up but had they been on the left side of the crossing I do wonder if they would’ve walked into the car 🤷🏻♂️ As Ashley said…observation and thought needs to go into every press of the horn. Glad you managed to avoid an incident with yours 👍
As someone who only past their test in october I do feel learners are not instructed enough on the horn and really when we should use it properly, we are told to be more passive - this is good in someways - I rarely use the horn - I dont think I have! While this is somewhat good I am also not sure its good instruction either it should be used when needed and better education and using it when needed as a learner may be better - though could end up in unwanted confrontations. I really liked youre example over the narrow bridge where you pipped the horn to let anyone know you're there and is something i will carry with me.
Some excellent use of the horn by the motorcycle riders. And also the rider which moved out as well. The mini roundabout with the wall in front……I think the car was right reprimand the driver to the left who kept coming despite the other car being already on the roundabout. But on the other hand, the borderline emerge by the blue car which - on our screens at least - didn’t seem that close, didn’t deserve to be beeped. Very similar setup to the main supermarket roundabout in the next town over from me. Very busy….like synchronised swimming. What we saw on our screens is normal at that supermarket. The learner on the test at that roundabout in the wrong lane. Def use the horn but tbh I wouldn’t have pulled away at exactly the same time.
My clip with the learner and completely understand what you say about pulling away at the same time. Unfortunately this is a roundabout with main routes on all four arms of the roundabout so is one of those that you end up pulling away together but then adjust acceleration accordingly once on the roundabout - if that makes sense when written down. The beep wasn’t to the learner but to the person in the left seat that should’ve been looking much more I did spot the position of the vehicle as we approached and if it wasn’t a learner I would definitely have waited for them to go first but I, wrongly, assumed that the person in the left seat would advise the pupil to turn left or that they had in fact set themselves up wrong for a left turn. Hands up, I was wrong and have learned from my error on that one. As Ashley says, the body language of vehicles tells more than the signals do Take care out there
I do think that some of these that may appear to be reprimands often aren't the case. Some people in these situations tense up and it simply takes a moment for your brain to catch up to your reflexes and your reflexes are screaming "I'm here, I'm here" and your body kinda prepares itself for a potential impact.
My most recent interaction where I used my horn was at a traffic light controlled junction where the oncoming car turning right did not give way to me and if not for my braking, would end up hitting the side of my car. They took it way too much offence to my use of the horn and decided to follow me all the way to my home, when I guess they realised they're gonna get trouble if I get the police involved. Kind of wish I had a dashcam just to get the numberplates and incident recorded.
The problem with horns these days is that they are on the wheel and not on the indicator stalk like they were in the good old days. As they are generally stiff to press they tend to need laying on to make them work, hence sometimes they sound longer than they should.
I suspect my good old days were somewhat before yours. Horn pushes were always in the center of the steering wheel, and high beam headlights got switched on with a button on the floor. Nostalgia, not as good as it used to be 😀
@@donmacdonmy 1982 Silver Spirit has high beam activated via a button on the floor carrying on Rolls-Royce tradition 😊. One can flash the high beam by using the indicator stalk though.
Haha ironic that this video happened today. I was coming out a multi-storey after a football match today where the roads are pretty much grid-locked. I was letting one car out from each side-passage (allowing flow but ensuring I was still making progress). One car took great exception to me only letting one car out as opposed to two and wasn't afraid to let me know with possibly 5 or 6 huge blasts of the horn. Encountering drivers like that makes me pity them. They must lead extremely frustrating lives.
In terms of honking at someone to point out their mistakes after the fact, I've always just recognised that there are two types of person. The first type will already have recognised their mistake, honking at them is only going to make them feel worse about it than they do, so why bother? The second type generally lacks the capability to understand that they've made a mistake, honking at them is only going to make them angry and escalate the situation, so why bother? Leaves you with the only situation where you should use the horn being to avoid danger, as it should be.
@@jdb47games There would be a significant improvement in driving standards if they stopped handing out licenses like smarties. Most drivers are unaware, in their own little world and distracted by sat navs, mobile phones, conversations with passengers, etc...
I was recently in an accident (no one hurt, all cosmetic) but other party was found 100% at fault. Deciding factor was because I sounded the horn as a warning before the accident.
05:57. A clip from Thingwall on the Wirral showing a fairly common event at that roundabout on Arrowe Park Road A551 and Thingwall Road East B5138. The lanes, particularly the right one, are a bit narrow, and the roundabout itself is a bit too wide in diameter for the size of the lanes and requires a precise, tight and sharp turn to get around it. So some drivers (usually because they set off too quick or aren't paying proper attention at first) suddenly feel they're going to hit the roundabout itself and so swing out a bit into the left lane in order to widen and make their tight turn around the roundabout, completely forgetting at the moment that's another car next to them in the left lane. If the roundabout was shortened in diameter the problem wouldn't happen.
this is one of the formats i like. Videos open for interpretation. (dutch, sorry if i did not spell it correctly) Anyways: Discussion is what is needed to get people in line.
You making sure the person gets safely out of their car... brilliant. Sure, some complain, but if only everybody did that, we would not have such rubble in Gaza.
Maintaining or even increasing your speed up until the last moment just so you can blare the horn is an easy way to tell that you are in the wrong. 6:14 A dutch clip. Immediately recognized. Believe me, i know. I have to deal with these daily. Situation at 7:06 is what we see in the Netherlands on a daily basis as well. A very busy road trying to emerge onto a roundabout, and other traffic from other sides never creating any space. In such cases they should not try to solve it with bigger round abouts with speed lanes. They should just put in a traffic light. And time it. Sometimes a traffic light works much better.
There have been very few times I've had to hold the horn and one of those times was when I was driving a bus and a car had pulled into a bus stop while I was behind them to the offside a little, just enough for their wing to miss my bus. Then they started reversing in a way that their wheel arch would have made contact with the bus (Or at least from the angle I was sitting it seemed) it all started with them putting their car into reverse and I tapped the horn to make sure they knew I was in their way without any way of moving out of the way since an ambulance was on it's way through the traffic from behind me. The car decided to floor in reverse and only stopped when I held the horn just before their wheel arch collided with the bus. Once they stopped they floored forward and sped off and I didn't see them again. Passengers and waiting customers were shocked at the cars behaviour. Which they probably noticed from the way I held the horn
a few days ago i was behind a disability rider woman id say in her late 60s on the road. i was doing 10MPH and waited for a safe place to overtake, i wanted to ensure she knew i was here and i was going to overtake just so she dont go and randomly drive to the other side of the road. anyways i did a small hoot and next min she put her arms up with a angry face i passed then at the next junction she gave me a load of abuse for pipping at her. i tried to explain it but she claims to report me to the police, still not heared anything and in my opinion it was a justifiable reason to pip as i was not sure if she knew i was even there, beside im not a fan of disability scooters being on the road, their not insured nor taxed and their very slow and can pose a extreme risk to other road users.
I've never used my horn, if you have good situational awareness and consideration for others, and their mistakes, you shouldn't need to. This also prevents conflict, as whatever is said, 99% of drivers view being 'beeped' as a hostile or aggressive act.
I haven't had to use my horn in like 2 years and even back then it was just to get a guy's attention to ask if he was moving so i could park up. Turns out he was broken down, we both had a humble conversation about it.
In Colombia drivers and riders use their horn to keep the traffic moving and as a form of communication. In the UK it seems to be used after the fact or out of frustration and not in a preemptive and communicative manner.
As someone who visits India frequently, I prefer the UK's way a thousand times more. The constant use of the horn in India would be utterly unnecessary if people drove properly.
Any tips on how to press the horn correctly? Mine is so hard to press I try and do a gentle pip and I either get nothing because I have not pressed hard enough and the event has passed or I end up pressing it too hard and it sounds aggressive and reprimanding.
I have started using the horn the Ashley way (not quite Ogmiois’ gentle beep button), to basically stop people driving into me. The rage it creates is remarkable. Am I meant to let a crash happen?
I've mentioned before that the exit of my gym onto a main road is constantly blocked by queuing traffic. I do think about giving them a quick pap of the horn as a "do you realise what you're doing?" but also don't really want the grief. At this time of year my headlights pointing into their cabin should give them a clue!
Up on the Northern Fells I've noticed the local sheep respond to a blast on the horn, if you fail to do this they just stand there in the middle of the road looking at you. Unlike pedestrians, they just trot off with no reaction at all.
Sometimes using the horn can cause more problems, and can even be dangerous. For example, if someone pulls out in front of you from a side road causing you to slow down suddenly, they presumably haven't seen you or have misjudged your speed. If you sound your horn it can panic the other driver and they may even brake to a stop right in front of you, reducing your breaking distance more than they originally did. Very rarely will they speed up quickly in response to a horn.
2.09 that's the roundabout at Halbeath near the Park And Ride bus site the M90 junction just outside Dunfermline where I was born I now live around 20 miles away
I drive a HGV, and I mostly use my horn at blind corners - I slow right down, hold as far over as I can to increase my view into the corner*, and then give a couple of beeps on the horn. *The other reason I move as far over as I can is so my trailer doesn't foul anything.
How loud the horn is does vary greatly from vehicle to vehicle too, normally trucks have a very loud one, but not the one I was driving the other day, a mercedes artic which gave a gentle "mip!" when someone cut me up before a roundabout - it felt inadequate!
Truck horns vary. Some use their standard factory built horns and others have aftermarket air horns slapped on. Might also be some with old horn from trains.
The ‘notification’ style horn use that works best for me is the double ‘pip.’ You have to think of things like this since a lot of people take the slightest horn use as a personal attack on their character in this country.
I don’t think it’s even as deep as that, the horn is just very loud and aggressive sounding and when it’s directed at you, your lizard brain is highly likely to interpret it as an assault or threat and immediately put you into a fight or flight state. Personally I think using the horn in anger is risking death, because all it takes is for that surge of adrenaline to cause the other driver to slam the brakes on or try and ram you off the road, especially in the few seconds directly after before they really have time process the situation or the consequences of those actions, and whether or not that’s a reasonable response it’s a fact that for all our higher thought capabilities we’re at the end of the day just animals acting on emotional whims and instincts, and technology has rapidly outpaced human evolution this last few centuries. It’s just usually not worth the risk of antagonising someone like that whether in this country or any.
80 years ago cars were primitive. The only way to communicate with other drivers was to use the horn, flash the lights, wave or yell out the window. Now with today's modern computers and telecommunications just think how much inter-driver communication has improved. We can thank both government and the private sector for the massive leaps forward.
I've noticed that using the horn heavily or oftwn just leads to me being more aggressive while driving in general. I prefer to slow down and let the person in front of me fix their situation. If they're aware they've made a mistake, horn use will only stress them out more and cause them to take longer to correct the initial mistake in the first place. And what if its perceived as a case of road rage by someone who has anger issues. They might get out and bash your lights or windows in. There are those who recognize their mistakes and those who don't.
How about one for bike bell use? I use my bike bell far more than I use the car horn (and I spend much more time driving than cycling). Shared cycle/pedestrian pathways are 'challenging'. Pedestrians are far less predictable than drivers, dog walkers and their dogs are a notch worse, and electric scooter riders believe they are invincible. Ringing the bell can definitely be a 'stress ball' for me, as often no one pays any attention to it.
It’s difficult to emote with a car horn. I use a double tap to ping and alert others to my presence, press and hold to indicate urgent and immediate action is needed to avoid collision.
I can't remember when I last used the horn legally; certainly not in the car I've been driving for nearly four years. The last two or three times were definitely illegal, albeit accidental; the car was stationary and the engine off. The clip beginning at 2:13 - I hope the viewer has been watching your recent videos on the theme of managing road use so as not to arrive at the same place at the same time. That was the bigger issue for me. I'm not sure how the viewer expected the Prius driver to respond to the first beep either; the longer press sounded like frustration that it wasn't out of the way immediately. In fact, as in most of these clips, it was good driving by the viewer that fixed the situation.
I use the horn on my bikes once a yeah, when I prep them for an MOT, I aim for my riding to be good enough to never need a horn. Same aim with driving a car.
There is a merge point a few car lengths along the road where the car turned into however many drivers feel like using it is cheating and queue jumping so would rather put themselves in the position you see here. Not an issue for me and I’ll wait for a suitable gap to emerge out, as shown in the clip 👍
@@smilerbob agreed, but in that situation you should use all available road space, to save traffic backing onto the roundabout.... it's what the lane is there for :)
Seeing the thumbnail of this video, and without looking at the title/publisher, I thought, "This *must* be from that UK driving instructor. What's his name? Ashley Neal!". Clicked it. Guessed correctly 😂😂
I used my horn while stationary at traffic lights to warn the pedestrians that the car approaching on my left didn't appear to be slowing or stopping. And I was right. Would love to hear police say that I was the one in the wrong there because I was stationary 🤣
When i was a learner, i was driving down a very quiet and clear road (had very few parked cars). I wanted to slow and park on the left, so i indicated. There was a car behind: he beeped so aggressively, and passed me on the right which was completely clear and empty. To this day, i still wonder why. 🤨
Recently I arrived at a mini-roundabout fractionally ahead of someone arriving from the right. I'd slowed and started to emerge, they'd kept their foot down despite seeing me. Got a long old honk from them. Looked at the footage back and they hadn't even gone over the centre of the roundabout, they were fully on the wrong side. Created their own problem by not slowing down for the roundabout. I'm not taking criticism from someone like that.
Prior to an event happening? Why would you beep your horn before anything happens? The near collission IS the event, you can't beep before they did something wrong.
Think I've got a video of my using my horn somewhere... need to sort all my recordings out Trying to tell someone to turn their left signal off when they go past multiple junctions with it still on ... they didn't listen but did turn left 5 business days later
If I sound my horn when I'm driving my bus because of the deepness of the horn sound it sounds as though I'm repremanding and I'm not it's normally a "I'm here" beep rather than a telling off beep, people now just dont get the difference.
It can be very helpful with cyclists when used correctly. If they do not bunch to the left when you approach them from behind, they have not heard you. Some drivers refuse to accept this but you cannot always hear cars behind you when riding. A short beep will let them know you are there. It is very uncommon for drivers to help in this way, but it does occasionally happen & most riders will appreciate it.
I really liked the first one, like you. It really helped everyone I've been helped by people using their horn at?, me when it was clear as a pedestrian I was unaware of their presence and they wanted to warn me. As I wasn't intending to cross the road but merely trying to work out my route, it did startle, but I took it as a sign I was too near the curb.
the few times i've used a horn on my first big bike have been accidental. Honda must really want me to use the horn as the button is ludicrously big compared to the indicators, and winter gloves add another challenge level
I only use the horn for what is is meant for i.e. as a warning that I am there and in the first clip with the silver Golf the use was unnecessary as the viewer perceived what the Golf was going to do so should have slowed to allow them space. In my view the horn was used primarily as a chastisement of the Golf driver. One point where the HC is wrong IMO is the use of the horn when stationary. There are many situations where you may be stationary and another vehicle is moving toward you say, at a traffic lights where the vehicle in front is rolling back,. Similarly where reversing vehicles can't see you. TBH I think its wise to ignore the HC on this one and use the horn wisely. My Beetle has two sets of horns, the original one that sounds that it came from Noddy's car and a new set of airhorns that are particularly strident. Each has its own uses, the original one is almost friendly and the airhorns are "wake up you dozy ....." I have also fitted my motorbike with a pair of FIAMM electric horns that really announce their presence. Bike horns are by and large pathetic and people rarely respond to them especially, as bikes seem to be invisible to most road users and pedestrians. The new horns have an astounding effect and shakes people out of their myopia or complacency.
The pap of the horn at 7:59 wasn’t a reprimand horn, it was a I am here horn. That roundabout regularly gets congested and there is a second lane on the exit where the vehicle is exiting to and there are occasions where drivers will suddenly see that lane is clear and head for it, sometimes requiring a small reverse to do so. The horn was to warn them I was passing behind and please do not reverse 👍 As you say in the video, there was thought behind it…whether or not people agree with the thought process used 😉
@@ashley_neal I have shown that clip to others who said it was pointless beeping and just being a nuisance as the car was already gone. When I explained about the reverse to move into lane 2 the response from some was slightly worrying, essentially saying that if they did reverse and hit the car it would be their fault and it will teach them to look. Cause a collision and appoint blame than try to avoid one 🤦♂️
i hardly use my horn, the way i drive i dont need to as i usually fix other mistakes for them. but recently i needed to use it on a large oval roundabout on Dundee kingsway near Asda. as i went round the roundabout it goes to 2 lanes at the traffic lights but there are 4 lanes to use (2 exit off the roundabout, 2 for the duel carriage way of the kingsway). i feel lane 1 at the traffic lights goes into lane 1 and 2 for the exit up to Asda and the industrial estate, and lane 2 at traffic lights goes into lane 3 and 4 for the kingsway. but many a time people in lane 2 go to exit lane 2 which cuts off people in lane 1 going to the same lane. so i was getting cut up by a pick up truck that had to be in front of me to get into Asda one car ahead of me, so i used the horn to warn them i was in their blind spot and they cutting me up. because i dont use my horn often i feel i held it longer than i liked because in some vehicles it takes a tough press to activate the horn, there has been times i went to press the horn, not pressed enough and nothing has happened or a little peep has come out from it. so i do feel some people in dash cams where the horn has been held for quite a while, it could be down to the horn is sticky or tough to press and so to make sure it sounds they press and hold it for longer than needed as well as the fact their brain could be locking up a little as they process what is going on, thinking of other options and their hand is still on the horn.
No matter how poorly the other driver did, whenever the cammer sits on the horn, all my sympathy is eradicated. In 4 years of driving, I have used the horn maybe twice, both times for people not noticing the light being green. I have used it for when coming over narrow bridges, but that's a standard way to use it. When you position correctly, you are rarely ever in a situation where you need to use the horn.
I don't agree that it should only be used when moving. Once I was in my car waiting stationary for traffic ahead to move. Another car was reversing out of a parking space towards me. I don't think they knew I was there, so I beeped. I think I stopped them crashing into me.
If you MUST not use your horn while stationary, then what about this situation? The traffic stopped at a roadworks and the car in front of me blocked a driveway on the left and they reversed to let a car out. I had no room to reverse and I didn't think the guy was looking where he was going by the speed he was reversing, so I hooted him before he backed into me. But he didn't. And also, would you use the horn to warn a driver BEHIND YOU? I was approaching a roundabout at about 40mph and in my centre mirror, there was a Deliveroo rider on a moped TEXTING while he was moving and following me WAY too closely, so I gave a quick blip to make sure he was paying attention before I even attempted to slow down.
That's covered by the last (half) sentence of "EXCEPT when another road user poses a danger". They way I interpret the rule this exception applies to both bullet points, not just the second one. Someone reversing (or driving towards you for that matter) is clearly posing a danger to you, especially if you can't move.
They should really simplify it a bit so it's not so open for different interpretations, especially if it's a MUST. And warning of danger is ultimately what the horn is for, so time of day and whether or not you're moving is irrelevant really.
i passed my test in may of this year, looking back on some of my clips im ashamed of how ii used the horn so badly and as a reprimand, ive been trying to adapt my driving habits so i dont need to use the orn as much and onlyh use it when absolutely necessary
Another misuse of the horn is when someone arrives to take a neighbour to work at 2 am and instead of getting out of the vehicle and knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell they sound their horn.
They could also phone them from inside the vehicle instead waking up people like myself who has a sleep disorder.
I was just about to comment on that actually. Yes it can be extremely annoying and is such a lazy habit.
My neighbours work van gives a double tap of the horn when locking/unlocking. Presumably controlled by an aftermarket immobiliser. Mine beeps quite loudly in the same scenario so can't complain too much but the horn definitely travels further and through walls more clearly (by design of course)
Taxis as well. First is a pap, then it is a beep 30 seconds later followed by a HONK not long after 🤷🏻♂️
@@ibs5080 I anonymously sent them a letter in the post outling the situation and included an extract from Highway Code about use of the horn between 23:30 - 07:00 hours.
My mate does this, in the past he has occasionally given me a lift home late at night, I get out to go in my front door and just as he pulls away he beeps the horn as if to say goodbye.
And I wince every time he does it, [he doesn’t do it every time so is unpredictable, either way now won’t accept a lift off of him late at night]
Whether you use the horn in accordance with the Highway Code or not, people will always think you’re being cheeky! - Ashley Neal 2022
I use my horn so infrequently I forget where it is. Genuinely.
To be honest, I don't recall when I last used my horn.... Potentially, the last time it was sounded could have been at the car's MOT, back in October!
Same here 50 years of driving I can count on one hand how many times I've used the the horn, I say remove the damn things especially from taxis!
The biggest issue with the horn is the same as a flash of the lights, theres often no clarity of who it was meant for. Obviously in the reprimand scenarios this can be quite clear for everyone involved, but a generic honk in a busy place, no idea of source or target then has me looking everywhere for something i might have missed (which in turn might make me miss something else, i recognise). Could be an actual danger, could be someone saying hi to a friend theyve seen on the pavement, could be anything.
My dad has always tried to discourage me from using it because he thinks it can make the situation more dangerous since it distracts drivers and will often startle them.
Last i checked flash of the lights is meant to be a visual version of the horn.
Yeah my wife just passed her test and everytime she hears a horn she is like "is that for me"
Why is it people feel the need to sound their horn just because they see someone they know?
A few excessive horn uses there but also some nice friendly “I am here” taps of the horn.
Having learned most of my driving in the countryside the horn was a useful extension of being seen, a bap before a blind corner, or a pip to someone emerging from behind an untrimmed hedge, and was always greeted with a thimbs up or friendly wave.
I then started a commute into London, and would give a friendly pip of the horn to someone emerging from behind a parked bus and would be greeting with a stare, a shake of the hand or a shrug of the shoulders as if to say “What?!”
Two similar scenarios treated as polar opposites because of the perceived nature of horn use
I agree with the countryside element, on my daily commute I go across several blind one-way bridges with no priority, so I will always pip the horn just to make any potential vehicles on the other side aware of my presence. Having had it done for me as well, it saves time and makes life much easier for all parties involved
Exactly!
Key observation from those clips. Most drivers brake when they hear a horn behind them. So always be aware and as always, NEVER compromise your forward stopping space. Slow quickly if you get cut off… especially if you are about to risk startling or irritating the driver who did it!
right. sensible drivers interpret a horn as a warning danger is coming, so their natural reaction is to stop until they've sorted out the source. yet you see so many dashcammers blare the horn at someone who wouldn't have been in the way, until they stopped in response to the horn.
@@kenbrown2808 I know of a case a older driver believing the horn was someone urging him to move ( had to give way but was taking some time) result was a cyclist getting involved.
The horn was actually to warn the driver for the presence of the cyclist on a poorly designed crossing.
I was driving at night (in the US) once and there was a car with it's right turn signal on driving slowly through some stoplights. I assumed he was looking for the McDonalds on the right past the light for the exit-ramp of the highway. However he made a mistake and turned up the exit-ramp and began heading toward the wrong way of a fast highway. I gave a few (not light) beeps of the horn and he stopped and proceeded to turn around.
In that instance the horn was necessary as it would've been minutes to call the police and for them to arrive, whereas a fatal crash could've been only seconds later.
I've been driving 20 years and always like to improve. These videos are great! Don't use the horn as a stress ball!
The only time i was honked at was when i fully stalled my car (one of the brakes didn't fully retract immediately as the dust/water cover of it was broken and rust and dirt made it run anything but smooth. It was when i was first in line in front of a red light. Only 2 cars went through green that cycle, me and the guy beeping behind me. It's been fixed long ago and now it doesn't happen anymore.
Sometimes, you may need to use the horn even when you're in the wrong. If it prevents an incident, then you used it correctly, even if you messed up. Never take horn use personally. Even if it's a clear reprimand, it's likely they have other stresses in their life, and often not meant personally. If you think you might have messed up and been hooted at, no problem if no incident, but learn from it. There's no time for the retaliative mentality (only increases risk), and no-one will give a hoot anyway. Most likely, no-one will know who you are, or how important your car is. And no-one will care. They just want to get where they're going, patiently or impatiently.
I've been driving for nearly 20 years and have used the horn probably fewer than 10 times. The most recent was just a couple of weeks ago when I was being overtaken very slowly on the dual carriageway. The other car then basically sat alongside me as I approached another slower-moving vehicle. I looked across and saw the other driver was texting and as tempted as I was to give an angry blare I just gave 2 taps to wake them up (and hopefully get them to put the phone away.)
I once drove into a busy supermarket car park and spotted a car reversing out of a space that I decided I wanted. I went forward to position myself to nab his soon to be vacated space and plonked myself right in his left side rear blind spot. He carefully reversed out towards me. I couldn’t reverse to get out of his way as there were cars behind me. So I hooted. He continued to reverse carefully so I hooted again. And again a third time more frantically. I felt a right fool for having got myself into such a stupid position. He got out of his car to see what the hooting fuss was about and thankfully he saw the funny side of my embarrassment and we parted very amicably.
Especially scary for vulnerable road users like myself when I'm cycling, as it often makes us feel like we're about to be struck.
That BMW blocking the round about is standard practice in the midlands. It's rare that a person doesn't do this. Even with hatched boxes and "keep clear" road markings.
I've noticed a growing trend, especially in London, when one vehicle sounds it's horn, the other vehicle will sound it's horn back. Often the two motorists will go back and forth with the horn at each other as if it's some sort of competition that determines who was in the right. It can be very annoying to everyone else around though, especially when these incidents keep repeating.
More so in Birmingham and Manchester too.
And here in Burton…at 3 in the morning 😡
Most drivers seem to reverse the rule and only use the horn in residential areas between 2330 and 0700 😁
@@smilerbob Goodness, really? They must be on Vancouver time! Seriously though, that would be incredibly annoying as well as illegal.
That's cities for you. American downtowns these days is just the sound of car horns
It's not growing a trend. I remember half-wits doing this in the sixties.
Nice to see the woman getting out of the car give up on her argument once you made a valid point. So many people continue trying to argue because they can't be proven wrong no matter what! Thats someone who should hopefully learn from their mistakes.
Hear hear!
I've been driving for over 10 years and I don't remember ever using my horn. I'm one of those weird drivers who, when someone pulls out in front of meo or cuts me up, goes for the brake first instead of pressing the horn.
I have been driving nearly 5 years now and can probably count on one hand how many times i have used the horn. The thing is at the time you are supposed to use it i always find i am busy doing other things like braking or moving to avoid someone not paying attention. No point in beeping after.
The clip at around 1:20 is a good example of how some drivers take great offence at a brief sounding of horn. For this very reason, regrettably I'm sometimes reluctant to use the horn even if it was the correct and advisable thing to do.
I sound the horn before I set off on each journey to make everyone aware that a poor road user is about to be using the roads
I had a similar issue a few weeks ago, but I was in lane 2, and the driver in lane 1 decided to straight line the roundabout whilst I was beside them. And the response to my toot on the horn was them then deliberately pulling ahead, pulling out onto the lane divider, and then trying to brake check me multiple times. Considering I saved them all the hassle of having to pay to fix their car and mine, not a great response.
2:00 why the people who argue that looking at your phone while stationary is OK are wrong. The driver reacts to the beep and accelerates without even checking it's safe.
There’s no proof he was on his phone. He could’ve just zoned out. Couldn’t been staring at a bird at a tree who knows. Don’t presume someone is guilty based on assumptions
@@jimspammington1831well, in se everything you mentioned could also be seen as being distracted. So it also would preferably not happen, I'd say.
@@brentywentyDoesn't mean he was on his phone though does it?
@@jimspammington1831 My bad, it seemed you like you were implying he wasn't guilty at all, but you were just talking about being guilty of phone use.
My horn get used twice a day on weekdays and sometimes once a day on weekends. Once every morning when I do my vehicle checks, and once on a blind humpback bridge on my way to work. I don’t use my horn, if I have to I’ve been a bad driver and put myself in a bad situation.
I very rarely use my horn to be honest, the last time I used it was about 6 weeks ago, when a numpty in a Corsa cut straight across the front of my car on a spiral roundabout.
I missed it by millimetres after giving the ABS a good workout.
I know you shouldn't use the horn aggressively but last week I was tailgated by a Leon FR and overtaken in an insane place, a road which is too narrow for cars to pass where there are parked cars on both sides. He overtook me where there was a longish gap. That was bad enough, but it turned out his mate in a Golf GTI was following and he did the same, leaving even less room until the road narrowed. Sometimes it's hard to stop yourself doing it aggressively...
That 1st one was bang on, giving the message “LOOK OUT”
0:10 'only use while your vehicle is moving' - You are sitting in a car park, and car reverses out of a bay towards a child, they have not seen said child, and continue to reverse.... by using your horn to warn of this, you are breaking HC112... 112 has to be flexible
“EXCEPT when another road user poses a danger”
No ambiguity there imo 👍
@@smilerbob I'd agree BUT, that is about using the horn outside the hours of 11.30pm and 7am
I was at a roadworks and the car in front nearly reversed into me, trying to let a car out of a driveway he blocked. I couldn't reverse to help because the car behind me was WAY too close, so I used the horn because I didn't think he was looking where he was going.
I nearly had someone back into me while I was parked today. Using the horn prevented that my car from being totaled. Rules need to be made with context in mind.
@gareth14111984 I'll grant you the Highway Code is badly constructed with some of the wording (not the first time nor the last time we will here / read that) which I think is where you were coming from on this one, however the underlying legislation is apparently clear
"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
- stationary on a road, at any time, other than at times of danger due to another moving vehicle on or near the road
- in motion on a restricted road, between 23.30 hours and 07.00 hours in the following morning"
More conversations to -never- be had within the DVSA about the Highway Code wording 😉
Had a situation where a vehicle in the right-hand lane tried to move into the space my son was occupying in the left-hand lane as we moved off from traffic lights. The other driver went ballistic. When we got to the next set of lights, we were expecting the other driver to get out and start mouthing off, but they saw sense. Which was a shame, because we were outside the police station where my son is based.
I drive regularly on the junction at 2:00 and am often in this exact situation. Those lights can take a very long time to change so people take it as an excuse to switch off. Good to see I'm not misguided using the horn Ashley!
I try my best, but my horn use is sadly the hardest learning point.
Thanks for all the content!
I'll be honest, the main reason I've used the horn isn't because of other drivers, cyclists, or even pedestrians. It's mainly been because of seagulls thinking the road is a suitable place to fight over someone's chips, and ignore everything else around them. Slowing right down and a quick pap is usually enough to get them flying out of the way
Pigeons are the worst. Magpies, crows, seagulls; they all seem to have enough awareness to move out of the way, especially when you use the horn. Pigeons however... They just want to die, not even the horn is enough to move them.
Similar misinterpretations happen with bicycle bells. A tinkle to let someone know you’re about to pass is often taken as aggression
As a bus driver ive never understood the horn. If im in a situation where someone cuts me up or nearly causes an accident im too busy concentrating and dealing with the problem not looking for the horn and thinking about insults.
And other times you accidentally put your elbows on the horn am I right? Always did that myself when I was on the buses. 😅
As usual, great driving points to revisit and consider our own reasoning behind our thoughts and actions.
Ive been driving since 2019. I think I only used my horn twice. Similar to the 2nd clip, car stationary at traffic light was green. Clearly not paying attention. So beeped to make them aware. 2nd time, was driving over a bridge that was a single file and a blind elevation. I just beeped to simply let someone know that I was coming over.
Hardly ever use it, use the bell on my bike a lot but not the horn on my car. Probably last used it to alert the driver in front that the lights had changed, or when the car reversing toward me may not have seen me.
Same for me, hardly ever beep, but always on the bike bell
I think that a flash of the lights is less aggressive when someone does something they shouldn't. I know either shouldn't be used for this purpose but sometime people DO need to know they have done (or are doing) something dangerous. If my life and/or my car are in serious peril, then I've no qualms to use the horn for as long as I feel it is needed. Example. I was driving south down the M6 and moved into the 3rd lane to pass a car in the 2nd lane that was doing 65. There was a van slowly closing in the 3rd lane, but there was plenty of room for me to pass the car before they caught up. Except that the rocked up quick sharp and proceeded to tailgate me (mere feet behind). Normally I'd have pulled back into lane 2 and let them go but the car I'd just passed was now in my blind spot doing 70 alongside the van. Choice - speed up (and break the speed limit) or sound the horn until someone behind saw sense and backed off a bit. It must have been blaring for a good 20 seconds before the 2nd lane car backed off and let me change lanes.
I think a lot of long horns are more because of people freezing up a little during the sudden high stress situation. I don't think they all intend it to turn into a reprimand, its just hard to take your hand off the horn quickly when in that situation. I think you'd find a lot of peoples horn length is equivalent to the amount of time they're braking. Ultimately, a short toot would be better of course.
*braking
@@jdb47games oops of course, fixed it
I have commented this before, but at a junction with lights at red , immediately after another junction with a filter green light to go forward, I got beeped from behind and this confused me into thinking it was another filter, so I moved forward and had to brake to avoid a collision with a car emerging from the left. Turned out , the car was beeping , I think, to draw attention to someone on the pavement.
I stopped to give way to someone at a zebra crossing but the pedestrian (on the right hand side of the crossing as I was looking) was on their phone showing no sign of crossing so as I moved the car behind beeped (don’t know if it was for me or the pedestrian) but they looked up from the phone and started to cross.
It woke the pedestrian up but had they been on the left side of the crossing I do wonder if they would’ve walked into the car 🤷🏻♂️
As Ashley said…observation and thought needs to go into every press of the horn.
Glad you managed to avoid an incident with yours 👍
As someone who only past their test in october I do feel learners are not instructed enough on the horn and really when we should use it properly, we are told to be more passive - this is good in someways - I rarely use the horn - I dont think I have! While this is somewhat good I am also not sure its good instruction either it should be used when needed and better education and using it when needed as a learner may be better - though could end up in unwanted confrontations. I really liked youre example over the narrow bridge where you pipped the horn to let anyone know you're there and is something i will carry with me.
Some excellent use of the horn by the motorcycle riders. And also the rider which moved out as well.
The mini roundabout with the wall in front……I think the car was right reprimand the driver to the left who kept coming despite the other car being already on the roundabout.
But on the other hand, the borderline emerge by the blue car which - on our screens at least - didn’t seem that close, didn’t deserve to be beeped. Very similar setup to the main supermarket roundabout in the next town over from me. Very busy….like synchronised swimming. What we saw on our screens is normal at that supermarket.
The learner on the test at that roundabout in the wrong lane. Def use the horn but tbh I wouldn’t have pulled away at exactly the same time.
My clip with the learner and completely understand what you say about pulling away at the same time. Unfortunately this is a roundabout with main routes on all four arms of the roundabout so is one of those that you end up pulling away together but then adjust acceleration accordingly once on the roundabout - if that makes sense when written down. The beep wasn’t to the learner but to the person in the left seat that should’ve been looking much more
I did spot the position of the vehicle as we approached and if it wasn’t a learner I would definitely have waited for them to go first but I, wrongly, assumed that the person in the left seat would advise the pupil to turn left or that they had in fact set themselves up wrong for a left turn. Hands up, I was wrong and have learned from my error on that one.
As Ashley says, the body language of vehicles tells more than the signals do
Take care out there
I do think that some of these that may appear to be reprimands often aren't the case. Some people in these situations tense up and it simply takes a moment for your brain to catch up to your reflexes and your reflexes are screaming "I'm here, I'm here" and your body kinda prepares itself for a potential impact.
My most recent interaction where I used my horn was at a traffic light controlled junction where the oncoming car turning right did not give way to me and if not for my braking, would end up hitting the side of my car. They took it way too much offence to my use of the horn and decided to follow me all the way to my home, when I guess they realised they're gonna get trouble if I get the police involved.
Kind of wish I had a dashcam just to get the numberplates and incident recorded.
The problem with horns these days is that they are on the wheel and not on the indicator stalk like they were in the good old days. As they are generally stiff to press they tend to need laying on to make them work, hence sometimes they sound longer than they should.
I suspect my good old days were somewhat before yours. Horn pushes were always in the center of the steering wheel, and high beam headlights got switched on with a button on the floor. Nostalgia, not as good as it used to be 😀
@@donmacdonSkoda Favorit - the horn was on the indicator stalk. Google image search confirms.
@@donmacdonmy 1982 Silver Spirit has high beam activated via a button on the floor carrying on Rolls-Royce tradition 😊. One can flash the high beam by using the indicator stalk though.
Haha ironic that this video happened today. I was coming out a multi-storey after a football match today where the roads are pretty much grid-locked. I was letting one car out from each side-passage (allowing flow but ensuring I was still making progress). One car took great exception to me only letting one car out as opposed to two and wasn't afraid to let me know with possibly 5 or 6 huge blasts of the horn.
Encountering drivers like that makes me pity them. They must lead extremely frustrating lives.
In terms of honking at someone to point out their mistakes after the fact, I've always just recognised that there are two types of person.
The first type will already have recognised their mistake, honking at them is only going to make them feel worse about it than they do, so why bother?
The second type generally lacks the capability to understand that they've made a mistake, honking at them is only going to make them angry and escalate the situation, so why bother?
Leaves you with the only situation where you should use the horn being to avoid danger, as it should be.
Exactly this.
100% correct. There would be a significant improvement in driving standards if everyone thought this way.
@@jdb47games There would be a significant improvement in driving standards if they stopped handing out licenses like smarties. Most drivers are unaware, in their own little world and distracted by sat navs, mobile phones, conversations with passengers, etc...
I was recently in an accident (no one hurt, all cosmetic) but other party was found 100% at fault. Deciding factor was because I sounded the horn as a warning before the accident.
Funny seeing this after visiting Egypt, is almost constant horn beeps , 😂😂
05:57. A clip from Thingwall on the Wirral showing a fairly common event at that roundabout on Arrowe Park Road A551 and Thingwall Road East B5138. The lanes, particularly the right one, are a bit narrow, and the roundabout itself is a bit too wide in diameter for the size of the lanes and requires a precise, tight and sharp turn to get around it. So some drivers (usually because they set off too quick or aren't paying proper attention at first) suddenly feel they're going to hit the roundabout itself and so swing out a bit into the left lane in order to widen and make their tight turn around the roundabout, completely forgetting at the moment that's another car next to them in the left lane. If the roundabout was shortened in diameter the problem wouldn't happen.
I like how you used the clip I acutally sent you by accident. I realized I was a bit agressive on the horn. Glad it helped the video make a point.
Thanks for sending in!
this is one of the formats i like.
Videos open for interpretation. (dutch, sorry if i did not spell it correctly)
Anyways: Discussion is what is needed to get people in line.
You making sure the person gets safely out of their car... brilliant.
Sure, some complain, but if only everybody did that, we would not have such rubble in Gaza.
Maintaining or even increasing your speed up until the last moment just so you can blare the horn is an easy way to tell that you are in the wrong. 6:14
A dutch clip.
Immediately recognized.
Believe me, i know. I have to deal with these daily.
Situation at 7:06 is what we see in the Netherlands on a daily basis as well.
A very busy road trying to emerge onto a roundabout, and other traffic from other sides never creating any space.
In such cases they should not try to solve it with bigger round abouts with speed lanes.
They should just put in a traffic light.
And time it.
Sometimes a traffic light works much better.
There have been very few times I've had to hold the horn and one of those times was when I was driving a bus and a car had pulled into a bus stop while I was behind them to the offside a little, just enough for their wing to miss my bus. Then they started reversing in a way that their wheel arch would have made contact with the bus (Or at least from the angle I was sitting it seemed) it all started with them putting their car into reverse and I tapped the horn to make sure they knew I was in their way without any way of moving out of the way since an ambulance was on it's way through the traffic from behind me. The car decided to floor in reverse and only stopped when I held the horn just before their wheel arch collided with the bus. Once they stopped they floored forward and sped off and I didn't see them again. Passengers and waiting customers were shocked at the cars behaviour. Which they probably noticed from the way I held the horn
I've been known (more than once) to go from one MOT to the next & literally only sound it to check it still works before the appointment.
a few days ago i was behind a disability rider woman id say in her late 60s on the road. i was doing 10MPH and waited for a safe place to overtake, i wanted to ensure she knew i was here and i was going to overtake just so she dont go and randomly drive to the other side of the road. anyways i did a small hoot and next min she put her arms up with a angry face i passed then at the next junction she gave me a load of abuse for pipping at her. i tried to explain it but she claims to report me to the police, still not heared anything and in my opinion it was a justifiable reason to pip as i was not sure if she knew i was even there, beside im not a fan of disability scooters being on the road, their not insured nor taxed and their very slow and can pose a extreme risk to other road users.
I've never used my horn, if you have good situational awareness and consideration for others, and their mistakes, you shouldn't need to. This also prevents conflict, as whatever is said, 99% of drivers view being 'beeped' as a hostile or aggressive act.
I haven't had to use my horn in like 2 years and even back then it was just to get a guy's attention to ask if he was moving so i could park up. Turns out he was broken down, we both had a humble conversation about it.
I got beeped at earlier for doing the right thing and not just pilling in and blocking a junction. I’m not going through if I won’t be able to clear.
In Colombia drivers and riders use their horn to keep the traffic moving and as a form of communication.
In the UK it seems to be used after the fact or out of frustration and not in a preemptive and communicative manner.
As someone who visits India frequently, I prefer the UK's way a thousand times more. The constant use of the horn in India would be utterly unnecessary if people drove properly.
Good learning points, and it wil make me consider next time I want to use the horn.
Any tips on how to press the horn correctly? Mine is so hard to press I try and do a gentle pip and I either get nothing because I have not pressed hard enough and the event has passed or I end up pressing it too hard and it sounds aggressive and reprimanding.
I wish there was just a simple button perhaps in addition to the centre of the steering wheel. It would be so much easier to do a quick pip-pip
I find 2 short bursts is less aggressive than 1 extended blast
Don’t try to press it gently but press it properly but quickly 👍
I have started using the horn the Ashley way (not quite Ogmiois’ gentle beep button), to basically stop people driving into me. The rage it creates is remarkable. Am I meant to let a crash happen?
I've mentioned before that the exit of my gym onto a main road is constantly blocked by queuing traffic. I do think about giving them a quick pap of the horn as a "do you realise what you're doing?" but also don't really want the grief. At this time of year my headlights pointing into their cabin should give them a clue!
After all that horn blowing, I thought at the end you would say "Keep safe everyone and I'll HEAR you soon". 😊
I always feel it should be " YOU'LL see ME (and hear me) soon.
@@thomaselliot2257 I hear you Thomas!
Up on the Northern Fells I've noticed the local sheep respond to a blast on the horn, if you fail to do this they just stand there in the middle of the road looking at you. Unlike pedestrians, they just trot off with no reaction at all.
nice video ash, nothing i hate more than drivers blaring their horns in to non-issues that they aren't even willing to try and fix
Sometimes using the horn can cause more problems, and can even be dangerous. For example, if someone pulls out in front of you from a side road causing you to slow down suddenly, they presumably haven't seen you or have misjudged your speed. If you sound your horn it can panic the other driver and they may even brake to a stop right in front of you, reducing your breaking distance more than they originally did. Very rarely will they speed up quickly in response to a horn.
2.09 that's the roundabout at Halbeath near the Park And Ride bus site the M90 junction just outside Dunfermline where I was born I now live around 20 miles away
I drive a HGV, and I mostly use my horn at blind corners - I slow right down, hold as far over as I can to increase my view into the corner*, and then give a couple of beeps on the horn.
*The other reason I move as far over as I can is so my trailer doesn't foul anything.
How loud the horn is does vary greatly from vehicle to vehicle too, normally trucks have a very loud one, but not the one I was driving the other day, a mercedes artic which gave a gentle "mip!" when someone cut me up before a roundabout - it felt inadequate!
Truck horns vary.
Some use their standard factory built horns and others have aftermarket air horns slapped on.
Might also be some with old horn from trains.
The ‘notification’ style horn use that works best for me is the double ‘pip.’ You have to think of things like this since a lot of people take the slightest horn use as a personal attack on their character in this country.
I don’t think it’s even as deep as that, the horn is just very loud and aggressive sounding and when it’s directed at you, your lizard brain is highly likely to interpret it as an assault or threat and immediately put you into a fight or flight state.
Personally I think using the horn in anger is risking death, because all it takes is for that surge of adrenaline to cause the other driver to slam the brakes on or try and ram you off the road, especially in the few seconds directly after before they really have time process the situation or the consequences of those actions, and whether or not that’s a reasonable response it’s a fact that for all our higher thought capabilities we’re at the end of the day just animals acting on emotional whims and instincts, and technology has rapidly outpaced human evolution this last few centuries.
It’s just usually not worth the risk of antagonising someone like that whether in this country or any.
80 years ago cars were primitive. The only way to communicate with other drivers was to use the horn, flash the lights, wave or yell out the window.
Now with today's modern computers and telecommunications just think how much inter-driver communication has improved. We can thank both government and the private sector for the massive leaps forward.
Derek and clive definitely got the horn !😂 👍
I've noticed that using the horn heavily or oftwn just leads to me being more aggressive while driving in general. I prefer to slow down and let the person in front of me fix their situation. If they're aware they've made a mistake, horn use will only stress them out more and cause them to take longer to correct the initial mistake in the first place.
And what if its perceived as a case of road rage by someone who has anger issues. They might get out and bash your lights or windows in.
There are those who recognize their mistakes and those who don't.
How about one for bike bell use?
I use my bike bell far more than I use the car horn (and I spend much more time driving than cycling).
Shared cycle/pedestrian pathways are 'challenging'. Pedestrians are far less predictable than drivers, dog walkers and their dogs are a notch worse, and electric scooter riders believe they are invincible.
Ringing the bell can definitely be a 'stress ball' for me, as often no one pays any attention to it.
There should be two different horn signals. "Friendly reminder I'm here" and "DANGER!".
It’s difficult to emote with a car horn.
I use a double tap to ping and alert others to my presence, press and hold to indicate urgent and immediate action is needed to avoid collision.
I do the same. Shame it's not a standard and never will be, everyone will always have in their own mind how it ends up
I can't remember when I last used the horn legally; certainly not in the car I've been driving for nearly four years. The last two or three times were definitely illegal, albeit accidental; the car was stationary and the engine off.
The clip beginning at 2:13 - I hope the viewer has been watching your recent videos on the theme of managing road use so as not to arrive at the same place at the same time. That was the bigger issue for me. I'm not sure how the viewer expected the Prius driver to respond to the first beep either; the longer press sounded like frustration that it wasn't out of the way immediately. In fact, as in most of these clips, it was good driving by the viewer that fixed the situation.
Same here. The last time I used it was the other day when I accidentally brushed against the steering wheel while getting in..!
I’ve been riding/driving for just under a decade and I can count on one hand the times I’ve sounded the horn
I use the horn on my bikes once a yeah, when I prep them for an MOT, I aim for my riding to be good enough to never need a horn. Same aim with driving a car.
7:38 In farness, there is another lane there they could use, 'use all available road space' as not to block the roundabout...
There is a merge point a few car lengths along the road where the car turned into however many drivers feel like using it is cheating and queue jumping so would rather put themselves in the position you see here. Not an issue for me and I’ll wait for a suitable gap to emerge out, as shown in the clip 👍
@@smilerbob agreed, but in that situation you should use all available road space, to save traffic backing onto the roundabout.... it's what the lane is there for :)
@@gareth14111984Not disagreeing at all 👍
Seeing the thumbnail of this video, and without looking at the title/publisher, I thought, "This *must* be from that UK driving instructor. What's his name? Ashley Neal!". Clicked it. Guessed correctly 😂😂
I used my horn while stationary at traffic lights to warn the pedestrians that the car approaching on my left didn't appear to be slowing or stopping. And I was right. Would love to hear police say that I was the one in the wrong there because I was stationary 🤣
It was used as a warning, so I'd say correct usage.
When i was a learner, i was driving down a very quiet and clear road (had very few parked cars). I wanted to slow and park on the left, so i indicated. There was a car behind: he beeped so aggressively, and passed me on the right which was completely clear and empty.
To this day, i still wonder why. 🤨
for being a learner, of course.
Recently I arrived at a mini-roundabout fractionally ahead of someone arriving from the right. I'd slowed and started to emerge, they'd kept their foot down despite seeing me. Got a long old honk from them. Looked at the footage back and they hadn't even gone over the centre of the roundabout, they were fully on the wrong side. Created their own problem by not slowing down for the roundabout. I'm not taking criticism from someone like that.
Prior to an event happening? Why would you beep your horn before anything happens? The near collission IS the event, you can't beep before they did something wrong.
My horn gets used once per year at the MOT test. Other than that i think I have only needed to use it once in the last 5 years
Think I've got a video of my using my horn somewhere... need to sort all my recordings out
Trying to tell someone to turn their left signal off when they go past multiple junctions with it still on
... they didn't listen but did turn left 5 business days later
If I sound my horn when I'm driving my bus because of the deepness of the horn sound it sounds as though I'm repremanding and I'm not it's normally a "I'm here" beep rather than a telling off beep, people now just dont get the difference.
It can be very helpful with cyclists when used correctly. If they do not bunch to the left when you approach them from behind, they have not heard you. Some drivers refuse to accept this but you cannot always hear cars behind you when riding.
A short beep will let them know you are there. It is very uncommon for drivers to help in this way, but it does occasionally happen & most riders will appreciate it.
I really liked the first one, like you. It really helped everyone I've been helped by people using their horn at?, me when it was clear as a pedestrian I was unaware of their presence and they wanted to warn me. As I wasn't intending to cross the road but merely trying to work out my route, it did startle, but I took it as a sign I was too near the curb.
Spot on as always!
I must confess, i have ,in the past, thrown many a beep back to drivers if they beep me and i subjectively think it was uncalled for.
Silly sausage
Then grow up. You were acting as young as your photo.
@@jdb47games I think I have after following Ashley for over 4 years. 👍
the few times i've used a horn on my first big bike have been accidental. Honda must really want me to use the horn as the button is ludicrously big compared to the indicators, and winter gloves add another challenge level
I only use the horn for what is is meant for i.e. as a warning that I am there and in the first clip with the silver Golf the use was unnecessary as the viewer perceived what the Golf was going to do so should have slowed to allow them space. In my view the horn was used primarily as a chastisement of the Golf driver.
One point where the HC is wrong IMO is the use of the horn when stationary. There are many situations where you may be stationary and another vehicle is moving toward you say, at a traffic lights where the vehicle in front is rolling back,. Similarly where reversing vehicles can't see you. TBH I think its wise to ignore the HC on this one and use the horn wisely.
My Beetle has two sets of horns, the original one that sounds that it came from Noddy's car and a new set of airhorns that are particularly strident. Each has its own uses, the original one is almost friendly and the airhorns are "wake up you dozy ....."
I have also fitted my motorbike with a pair of FIAMM electric horns that really announce their presence. Bike horns are by and large pathetic and people rarely respond to them especially, as bikes seem to be invisible to most road users and pedestrians. The new horns have an astounding effect and shakes people out of their myopia or complacency.
The pap of the horn at 7:59 wasn’t a reprimand horn, it was a I am here horn.
That roundabout regularly gets congested and there is a second lane on the exit where the vehicle is exiting to and there are occasions where drivers will suddenly see that lane is clear and head for it, sometimes requiring a small reverse to do so. The horn was to warn them I was passing behind and please do not reverse 👍
As you say in the video, there was thought behind it…whether or not people agree with the thought process used 😉
Totally fine for me!
@@ashley_neal I have shown that clip to others who said it was pointless beeping and just being a nuisance as the car was already gone. When I explained about the reverse to move into lane 2 the response from some was slightly worrying, essentially saying that if they did reverse and hit the car it would be their fault and it will teach them to look.
Cause a collision and appoint blame than try to avoid one 🤦♂️
i hardly use my horn, the way i drive i dont need to as i usually fix other mistakes for them. but recently i needed to use it on a large oval roundabout on Dundee kingsway near Asda. as i went round the roundabout it goes to 2 lanes at the traffic lights but there are 4 lanes to use (2 exit off the roundabout, 2 for the duel carriage way of the kingsway). i feel lane 1 at the traffic lights goes into lane 1 and 2 for the exit up to Asda and the industrial estate, and lane 2 at traffic lights goes into lane 3 and 4 for the kingsway.
but many a time people in lane 2 go to exit lane 2 which cuts off people in lane 1 going to the same lane.
so i was getting cut up by a pick up truck that had to be in front of me to get into Asda one car ahead of me, so i used the horn to warn them i was in their blind spot and they cutting me up. because i dont use my horn often i feel i held it longer than i liked because in some vehicles it takes a tough press to activate the horn, there has been times i went to press the horn, not pressed enough and nothing has happened or a little peep has come out from it. so i do feel some people in dash cams where the horn has been held for quite a while, it could be down to the horn is sticky or tough to press and so to make sure it sounds they press and hold it for longer than needed as well as the fact their brain could be locking up a little as they process what is going on, thinking of other options and their hand is still on the horn.
I use my horn very rarely. Can't even remember the last time. Literally once or twice a year?
No matter how poorly the other driver did, whenever the cammer sits on the horn, all my sympathy is eradicated.
In 4 years of driving, I have used the horn maybe twice, both times for people not noticing the light being green.
I have used it for when coming over narrow bridges, but that's a standard way to use it.
When you position correctly, you are rarely ever in a situation where you need to use the horn.
I don't agree that it should only be used when moving. Once I was in my car waiting stationary for traffic ahead to move. Another car was reversing out of a parking space towards me. I don't think they knew I was there, so I beeped. I think I stopped them crashing into me.
If you MUST not use your horn while stationary, then what about this situation?
The traffic stopped at a roadworks and the car in front of me blocked a driveway on the left and they reversed to let a car out. I had no room to reverse and I didn't think the guy was looking where he was going by the speed he was reversing, so I hooted him before he backed into me. But he didn't.
And also, would you use the horn to warn a driver BEHIND YOU? I was approaching a roundabout at about 40mph and in my centre mirror, there was a Deliveroo rider on a moped TEXTING while he was moving and following me WAY too closely, so I gave a quick blip to make sure he was paying attention before I even attempted to slow down.
That's covered by the last (half) sentence of "EXCEPT when another road user poses a danger". They way I interpret the rule this exception applies to both bullet points, not just the second one. Someone reversing (or driving towards you for that matter) is clearly posing a danger to you, especially if you can't move.
They should really simplify it a bit so it's not so open for different interpretations, especially if it's a MUST.
And warning of danger is ultimately what the horn is for, so time of day and whether or not you're moving is irrelevant really.
On the online highway code it's clear the "except when..." applies to both bullet points
i passed my test in may of this year, looking back on some of my clips im ashamed of how ii used the horn so badly and as a reprimand, ive been trying to adapt my driving habits so i dont need to use the orn as much and onlyh use it when absolutely necessary