Tom,
Excellent points!
Why go looking for trouble out on the road! My loud dual horns
are wired using the stock horn button (which triggers an
electrical relay). If my auto-reaction is to quickly hit the
horn, the loud ones get the nod. I ran a new wire from the
stock horn to a new horn button so that I have to conciously
press a different horn switch when the situation calls for a
kinder, gentler honk.
I avoid driver's blind spots like the plague. I use a 5/10
rule for passing drivers on highways or other multi-lane roads.
I will not pass a vehicle unless I can safely get just ahead of
the car (ie beyond the blind spot) in 5 - 10 seconds, without
tailgaiting the car in front of me (in my lane). If I have to
hang back before passing, I make sure that I can see the
driver's eyes in their side view mirror. If I can't see their
eyes in the mirror, they certainly can't see me. All this is
great in theory, but the realities of Seattle driving (& other
major cities) makes it challenging.
I agree with the listers who advocate restraint in using the
horn. I probably toot my honker no more than a couple of times
per week.
Professor A9 Federal Way, Wa. [USA]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--- Tom Myers wrote:
> All true, but too often I hear of motorcyclists using their
horn to teach other folks how to drive, when often they need
a lesson themselves.
>
> Horns have saved lives in countless situations, many times
my own. Horns are essential. But if I had time to decide
which horn to use, I'd use that time to avoid the danger.
If there was ** true danger**, I honestly don't know if I'd
remember to use the BIG horn...... (just my own situation).
>
> I've seen motorcyclists (my own riding buddies!!) let
themselves into silly situations so they can use the horn.
They're in the 'blind spot" and **they know it**. That's
the best way to catch a cager by surprise. Then when they
talk about it (and they always do) it's as if some driver
endangered their life. Sorry pal, I saw the whole thing,
and I know they were either baiting the cager or not paying
attention, in which case they're about equal at fault.
I've been around motorcyclists long enough to know that
this attitude is common, accepted, overlooked, and even
congratulated. THIS is the situation I'm complaining about,
not the genuine emergencies.
>
> There's enough rudeness out there as it is. The road rage
thing is a sickness on society. I sure hear a lot of buzz
from motorcyclists looking for an excuse to contribute.
>
> Tom (off soapbox, back to watching side-streets.....)
>
> ====================================
>
> Jim Hyman wrote:
> >The use of loud horns is (usually) successful in alerting
> >a car driver & stopping their actions immediately. I have
> >had them on my road bikes for over 30 years. Usually, the
> >driver is about to cut me off by entering the road from a
> >side street. I've lost count how many times their car jerks
> >to a halt & they look repeatedly from side to side, trying
> >to see who's bearing down on them. They don't even see me
> >going by them. I've also had cars try to occupy my lane on
> >the highway & they swerve back into their lane when I lean
> >on my horn. With all the road-rage incidents occurring, I
> >wouldn't even think of using my horn to teach someone a
> >lesson. BTW, I always keep my stock horn hooked up to a
> >secondary switch. I've heard that in parts of Europe, the
> >'shame' is on the driver who has to use his horn, because he
> >allowed himself to get into a bad situation. So be it, my
> >loud horns have saved my butt too many times over the years.
> >
> >Professor A9 Federal Way, Wa. [USA]
> >
> >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >--- Tom Myers wrote:
> >> I hope folks aren't out there using loud horns to scare
> >> other drivers (satisfying as it may be).
> > [snip]
> >> There are times when "teaching other drivers a lesson"
> >> is a poor lesson in itself.