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

[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.

Yeah, it is totally wrong. You pull out of a space (i.e., potentially interrupt the flow of traffic) only when it’s clear. Same reason why you have to yield to oncoming traffic when making a turn from a smaller street onto a larger street (if there’s no stop sign, for instance).

Incorrect PP probably also thinks they have the right of way at 4-way stops if they’re going straight (as opposed to the actual rule of “first to arrive is the first to go.”)

[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.

Yeah, it is totally wrong. You pull out of a space (i.e., potentially interrupt the flow of traffic) only when it’s clear. Same reason why you have to yield to oncoming traffic when making a turn from a smaller street onto a larger street (if there’s no stop sign, for instance).

Incorrect PP probably also thinks they have the right of way at 4-way stops if they’re going straight (as opposed to the actual rule of “first to arrive is the first to go.”)

I think that the law and etiquette aren’t in agreement here. When backing out of a spot you really cannot see if any cars are coming. You should back out very slowly and make sure you stop the instant you see somebody coming. But if somebody is going faster than they should in the parking lot, there will be problems. If you’re backing out, even as slowly and as carefully as you can, and somebody hits you, you are legally at fault. Even if the other car is speeding. (I think). But I think it’s appropriate to recognize that people who are backing out can’t see and you should let them out if you are approaching that spot, without insisting on your right of way.

[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.

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

Yeah, it is totally wrong. You pull out of a space (i.e., potentially interrupt the flow of traffic) only when it’s clear. Same reason why you have to yield to oncoming traffic when making a turn from a smaller street onto a larger street (if there’s no stop sign, for instance).

Incorrect PP probably also thinks they have the right of way at 4-way stops if they’re going straight (as opposed to the actual rule of “first to arrive is the first to go.”)

I think that the law and etiquette aren’t in agreement here. When backing out of a spot you really cannot see if any cars are coming. You should back out very slowly and make sure you stop the instant you see somebody coming. But if somebody is going faster than they should in the parking lot, there will be problems. If you’re backing out, even as slowly and as carefully as you can, and somebody hits you, you are legally at fault. Even if the other car is speeding. (I think). But I think it’s appropriate to recognize that people who are backing out can’t see and you should let them out if you are approaching that spot, without insisting on your right of way.

This sounds insane. I have a company car and have been forced to take numerous safe driving classes. The instruction when back out is to STEP on the brake, grab the passenger headrest and physically lift yourself out of the seat and look back to get a 360° rear view to ensure the path is clear while backing out SLOWLY. No way in hell I’m backing out without doing damn near an exorcist swivel to see who’s coming! I’ve seen people use only their rear view mirror which is 1000% wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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

Yeah, it is totally wrong. You pull out of a space (i.e., potentially interrupt the flow of traffic) only when it’s clear. Same reason why you have to yield to oncoming traffic when making a turn from a smaller street onto a larger street (if there’s no stop sign, for instance).

Incorrect PP probably also thinks they have the right of way at 4-way stops if they’re going straight (as opposed to the actual rule of “first to arrive is the first to go.”)

I think that the law and etiquette aren’t in agreement here. When backing out of a spot you really cannot see if any cars are coming. You should back out very slowly and make sure you stop the instant you see somebody coming. But if somebody is going faster than they should in the parking lot, there will be problems. If you’re backing out, even as slowly and as carefully as you can, and somebody hits you, you are legally at fault. Even if the other car is speeding. (I think). But I think it’s appropriate to recognize that people who are backing out can’t see and you should let them out if you are approaching that spot, without insisting on your right of way.

This sounds insane. I have a company car and have been forced to take numerous safe driving classes. The instruction when back out is to STEP on the brake, grab the passenger headrest and physically lift yourself out of the seat and look back to get a 360° rear view to ensure the path is clear while backing out SLOWLY. No way in hell I’m backing out without doing damn near an exorcist swivel to see who’s coming! I’ve seen people use only their rear view mirror which is 1000% wrong.

Yes this is all true! But if somebody is zooming through the parking lot it doesn’t matter how slowly you’re backing out, they can still hit you.

[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.

Wrong! You are supposed to gun the engine and attempt to race past them before you have to watch their 30-minute traffic maneuver.

[Anonymous]

I don’t even remember the last time I used my horn. I would honk to avoid an accident, but that’s it. So rude. Someone honked at me a few weeks ago because I was taking too long to back out of a parking space. I pulled back into the space, turned up the AC, and played on my phone for a while. Don’t honk at me. It will make me do everything I can to inconvenience you.

[Anonymous]

Most recent time I honked was to keep from being side-swiped by a massive pickup that entered from an onramp and crossed his lane nearly into mine (left lane on a two-lane higway) without looking or slowing down.

He actually had to swerve back into his lane to keep from bashing into me. I'm sure he never saw me - and I drive a pretty big pickup too.

Last time I was honked at.... no idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This sounds insane. I have a company car and have been forced to take numerous safe driving classes. The instruction when back out is to STEP on the brake, grab the passenger headrest and physically lift yourself out of the seat and look back to get a 360° rear view to ensure the path is clear while backing out SLOWLY. No way in hell I’m backing out without doing damn near an exorcist swivel to see who’s coming! I’ve seen people use only their rear view mirror which is 1000% wrong.

I'm 5ft tall. There is no way I can lift my body enough to see over the seats while simultaneously reaching the pedals with my feet. No, I don't drive a big SUV.

But for what it's worth, because of my limitations (and because I'm smart), I'm a backer inner parker.

[Anonymous]

I hear honking frequently but I'd say probably half the time, I'm not aware of why or if it's even directed at me (multiple cars around).

I honk for people not going when the light turns green, not immediately but after a couple of seconds or people not staying in lanes/near accidents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was honked yesterday when I wouldn't make a right on red. In my defense, there was a No Right on Red sign.

But was there small print underneath it that said "when pedestrians are present?" I see a lot of people do this with poor vision who can't read the second part (or they ignore it), and get honked at (rightfully so).

My vision is roughly 20/20 corrected. I can read. No, that addendum was not present. The intersection has likely run over more than a few people due to the nearby apartment building.

[Anonymous]

Right on red after stop is optional, not required.

If you drive a sedan and are parked between two larger vehicles (that were not there when you parked), it’s very difficult to see oncoming parking lot traffic when backing out. People have to cut each other some slack.

Someone honked at me this morning for doing 35 in a 25. He wanted go faster. I honked at someone Sunday for running the stop sign at the end of my block.

People are terrible drivers around here and I am a native Washingtonian.

[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.

The only people who back into spaces are the ones too stupid to drive a car forwards. They have to back up everywhere they go because it’s easier to drive in reverse than drive forwards.

[Anonymous]

I had a green light and was going about 35 mph on a major road and some lady walked into the crosswalk right in front of me. I honked as I breaked hard to make the lady aware, as well as to alert the cars behind me. Instead of getting out of the road, the lady stood right their and glared at me, refusing to move. She was totally crossing against the signal on a major busy road with fast moving traffic! If I'd hit her or been rear ended it would 100% have been her fault. My best guess was dementia, but it was scary.

I also recently honked at a car that misread a signal and went straight on a green arrow + red light. As a left turner coming from the other direction with a green arrow, I almost got hit. Totally his error.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right on red after stop is optional, not required.

If you drive a sedan and are parked between two larger vehicles (that were not there when you parked), it’s very difficult to see oncoming parking lot traffic when backing out.

If you can’t see through vehicles beside you when backing out of a space you have no business driving. People who back into spaces because it’s easier to pull out are just stupid and inept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This sounds insane. I have a company car and have been forced to take numerous safe driving classes. The instruction when back out is to STEP on the brake, grab the passenger headrest and physically lift yourself out of the seat and look back to get a 360° rear view to ensure the path is clear while backing out SLOWLY. No way in hell I’m backing out without doing damn near an exorcist swivel to see who’s coming! I’ve seen people use only their rear view mirror which is 1000% wrong.

I'm 5ft tall. There is no way I can lift my body enough to see over the seats while simultaneously reaching the pedals with my feet. No, I don't drive a big SUV.

But for what it's worth, because of my limitations (and because I'm smart), I'm a backer inner parker.

Backing in is the sign of someone who can barely drive a car. It’s the chickenshit way to park.