When's the last time you honked at someone, and someone honked at you... and why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last week. I honked at someone who didn't see me as he was backing out. Before that, it's been years. I couldn't tell you the last time I've been honked at

That’s on YOU. You’re supposed to let people back out of spaces.

I don't think that's necessarily true. It depends on how far into the "backing out" process someone is. My rough estimate:

<25% of the way backing out = vehicles driving through have the right of way - backer outer must stop.
25-50% = vehicles going through should yield to the backer outer, if possible
>50% of the way backed out = backer outer has the right of way, others must yield

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last week. I honked at someone who didn't see me as he was backing out. Before that, it's been years. I couldn't tell you the last time I've been honked at

That’s on YOU. You’re supposed to let people back out of spaces.

DP. If someone is driving past you, you don't get to back into them. This is why it makes more sense to back into the space - there's generally nothing behind you but a wall or a parked car when you back in, and then you can see what's going on when you pull out.

Oh no you did not just start this argument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last week. I honked at someone who didn't see me as he was backing out. Before that, it's been years. I couldn't tell you the last time I've been honked at

That’s on YOU. You’re supposed to let people back out of spaces.

This seems wrong. In most cases, drivers going forward in the flow of traffic have the right-of-way when someone is backing out.

It's not wrong in a parking lot. When you see someone backing out, assume they are doing so blind, so you stop and let them out. You may win the contest with the insurance company if you have an accident, but it is always better not to have an accident.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My favorite honker was I was headed to Hamptons by myself very early on a Saturday morning. I wanted to get there by 8 am.

I was driving left lane Long Island Express way out East moody at exit on an empty road. A sports car is up my butt in an empty road flashing me to move over. I was going 80mph.

So I hit the gas up to 100mph. Guy comes up my tail and starts honking. I had the top down as I had an old Mercedes like 18 years old and a V8. Guy Is honking so I say screw it and floor it. OMG I guess for autobahn purposes car downshifted are 120mph and I hear tire chirp. Next thing at 140mph and guy is pulling back. As my pants us crapping as I just took a 18 year old car with 120,000 miles up to 140 mph he pulls up beside me salutes me, gets behind as we go back to a modest 85 and get off next exit.

Who the heck beeps at a car going 100 mph to speed up or move over?

As my husband would say, jacka$$ city people going out the the Hamptons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone honked at me a couple of weeks ago when my lane ended and I was merging into the traffic and (mistakenly) thought they would slow down to let me in.

I can’t remember the last time I honked at someone. My drivers Ed instructor told us that having to honk is a sign of bad driving on the honker’s part.

LOL. Where was this?

It was in VA. For example, for some of the scenarios expressed by PP's, he would have said that if you see someone is backing out, then you should stop and let them back out, rather than honking to make them stop. If they swerved to get into my lane at the last minute, I should be able to see them and slow down to let them in; no need for a honk. I only honk if someone is about to collide with me and I wouldn't be able to avoid the collision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last week. I honked at someone who didn't see me as he was backing out. Before that, it's been years. I couldn't tell you the last time I've been honked at

That’s on YOU. You’re supposed to let people back out of spaces.

This seems wrong. In most cases, drivers going forward in the flow of traffic have the right-of-way when someone is backing out.

It's not wrong in a parking lot. When you see someone backing out, assume they are doing so blind, so you stop and let them out. You may win the contest with the insurance company if you have an accident, but it is always better not to have an accident.

Unless I'm angling for the spot or close to a collision, I almost never do this. And I get supremely annoyed when drivers BLINDLY back out of a spot, or make any incursion into ongoing traffic. That's when I honk at them and keep going!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone honked at me a couple of weeks ago when my lane ended and I was merging into the traffic and (mistakenly) thought they would slow down to let me in.

I can’t remember the last time I honked at someone. My drivers Ed instructor told us that having to honk is a sign of bad driving on the honker’s part.

LOL. Where was this?

It was in VA. For example, for some of the scenarios expressed by PP's, he would have said that if you see someone is backing out, then you should stop and let them back out, rather than honking to make them stop. If they swerved to get into my lane at the last minute, I should be able to see them and slow down to let them in; no need for a honk. I only honk if someone is about to collide with me and I wouldn't be able to avoid the collision.

I am an old and one of the Driver's Ed movie reel we watched was probably filmed in the late 60's (but we were watching it in the '80's) and distinctly remember the instructor in the film driving around in his '60's sedan with fins and tapping the horn at all these different scenarios (horn was on the side, like where your blinker is), including one where the person was backing out of their driveway. 1960's driving instructor wasn't stopping for people backing out. No way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last week. I honked at someone who didn't see me as he was backing out. Before that, it's been years. I couldn't tell you the last time I've been honked at

That’s on YOU. You’re supposed to let people back out of spaces.

DP. If someone is driving past you, you don't get to back into them. This is why it makes more sense to back into the space - there's generally nothing behind you but a wall or a parked car when you back in, and then you can see what's going on when you pull out.

Oh no you did not just start this argument.

Apparently we must have this discussion again since people who pull forward into parking spots think it's okay to back up blind into traffic out of the parking spot and expect everyone else to accommodate them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last week. I honked at someone who didn't see me as he was backing out. Before that, it's been years. I couldn't tell you the last time I've been honked at

That’s on YOU. You’re supposed to let people back out of spaces.

DP. If someone is driving past you, you don't get to back into them. This is why it makes more sense to back into the space - there's generally nothing behind you but a wall or a parked car when you back in, and then you can see what's going on when you pull out.

Oh no you did not just start this argument.

Apparently we must have this discussion again since people who pull forward into parking spots think it's okay to back up blind into traffic out of the parking spot and expect everyone else to accommodate them!

DP. This is a you-problem. Those of us who know how to drive, know how to make sure the area behind us is completely clear before backing out. Sorry you are incompetent and/or a Maryland driver.

[Anonymous]

I honk a few times a week at people sitting through a green. I am not upset nor am I in a rush, I am just helping them to take note. I hope people don't take it poorly but I doubt they themselves want to miss a green. Yesterday two in a row sat side by side distracted and I wondered how long they'd sit but someone behind me ended up honking. I drive everyday/ several times a day.

I love that 18yr old mercedes story, I would love to experience 140mph in a car (safely).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last week. I honked at someone who didn't see me as he was backing out. Before that, it's been years. I couldn't tell you the last time I've been honked at

That’s on YOU. You’re supposed to let people back out of spaces.

DP. If someone is driving past you, you don't get to back into them. This is why it makes more sense to back into the space - there's generally nothing behind you but a wall or a parked car when you back in, and then you can see what's going on when you pull out.

Oh no you did not just start this argument.

Apparently we must have this discussion again since people who pull forward into parking spots think it's okay to back up blind into traffic out of the parking spot and expect everyone else to accommodate them!

Dp

I think its common sense to wait for cars to be cleared BUT doesn't the law protect the backer outer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last week. I honked at someone who didn't see me as he was backing out. Before that, it's been years. I couldn't tell you the last time I've been honked at

That’s on YOU. You’re supposed to let people back out of spaces.

DP. If someone is driving past you, you don't get to back into them. This is why it makes more sense to back into the space - there's generally nothing behind you but a wall or a parked car when you back in, and then you can see what's going on when you pull out.

Oh no you did not just start this argument.

There is no argument. PP is 100% correct. Backing in is safer and quicker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They sat for a skid 90 seconds staring down at their phone after the light turned green. I am the most passive driver ever but the light was about to change again!

You seriously waited 90 seconds behind someone at a green light??

Can original-PP please answer this? 90 seconds is a really long time to wait at a green light.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They sat for a skid 90 seconds staring down at their phone after the light turned green. I am the most passive driver ever but the light was about to change again!

You seriously waited 90 seconds behind someone at a green light??

Very patient PP. I give (literally) no more than 3 sec before honking. Yes, I honk a lot but don't get honked at (maybe no more than once a year or less)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honk at other people all the time. At least a couple times a week.

Too many people only think about themselves about driving, and I use the honk to let them know: "hey, pay attention please. there are other people in this situation you know." Situations include people using their phones at lights (if there's "one Mississippi" and your brake lights are still on, you get a honk). Or you are making a left turn and refuse to pull up to allow people behind you to go around (and there would be space, if you pulled up). Or if they're not driving center-straight and their tire keeps hitting the line on a multi lane road.

Pay attention, be considerate, and you don't get a honk. I don't do it to be mean but to alert the driver to be more mindful of their surroundings.

The last time I was honked at was months ago, at least. Maybe a year or more. I think I probably succumbed to checking my phone at a light, though usually I'm very good about it.

You and I are driving twins. I liberally use my horn in all those cases you described. We have horns for a reason - to alert others of our presence. Use it!