How Long do You Wait Before Honking?

[ltslimjim]

What I don't understand is how come in some situations the following happens:

Ambulance comes from behind the flow of traffic, in the direction you are heading, and everyone moves to the shoulder to make room. Then, some drivers seem to feel like it's okay to punch it and use that as an opportunity to pass others before they get back on the road altogether?

Come on. 3 year olds act that way, kids...I mean people.

 

[wrcsixeight]

Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
red light running is very rampant down here in the jungle.


If I am in pole position, I always look for red light runners, especially when I visit my relatives in Florida, as this seems to be par for the course in that state.

But nobody behind me ever has reason to honk at me, as I am courteous, and aware.

 

[Rick in PA]

Originally Posted By: CivicFan
Originally Posted By: bobbob
I Hate to honk but sometimes you must. You are the second
car at the red light, it turns green and the first guy just
sits there, how long do you wait before honking? Thanks


After the second time it changes to green.


Ah, patience. (a virtue)

I usually don't bother honking, there's always somebody else (somebody in a hurry) that will handle the job...

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: FusilliJerry82
Do some of realize how unbearably long 5+ seconds is in the context of a traffic light? Seriously, count out one onethousand, two onethousand...... It's an eternity. Some lights near me are only green for about 10 seconds; less even.

2-3 with a following toot is the sweet spot.


I agree. 2 seconds I honk and don't let off the horn until they're rolling. I usually get bad looks when I pass by but at least I'm on my way.

 

[bigmike]

Originally Posted By: ltslimjim
What I don't understand is how come in some situations the following happens:

Ambulance comes from behind the flow of traffic, in the direction you are heading, and everyone moves to the shoulder to make room. Then, some drivers seem to feel like it's okay to punch it and use that as an opportunity to pass others before they get back on the road altogether?

Come on. 3 year olds act that way, kids...I mean people.

This happened to me last time I was in Daytona. I was 1st at a light and it just turned green. About the time I got across the intersection, a police officer came up from behind (lights/sirens going), so I moved over into a striped area on the right. The lady behind me moved over behind me as well to give room, then as I was accelerating back into the proper lane, I realize she is trying to pass me and not give me right of way. I ended up having to run off the road or face hitting her, which I chose to go into the grass instead. I had to wait until about 20 cars behind her passed me too before I could move back over.

The interesting thing is, at the next light I was right beside her and no "progress" was made...

Why do people do this? I blame the "me first" attitude and their parents.

 

[CivicFan]

Why don't we have a yellow light before the light turns green? The rest of the world has it and I think it's a pretty good method of preparing the drivers for the green.

 

[ltslimjim]

Originally Posted By: bigmike
Originally Posted By: ltslimjim
What I don't understand is how come in some situations the following happens:

Ambulance comes from behind the flow of traffic, in the direction you are heading, and everyone moves to the shoulder to make room. Then, some drivers seem to feel like it's okay to punch it and use that as an opportunity to pass others before they get back on the road altogether?

Come on. 3 year olds act that way, kids...I mean people.

This happened to me last time I was in Daytona. I was 1st at a light and it just turned green. About the time I got across the intersection, a police officer came up from behind (lights/sirens going), so I moved over into a striped area on the right. The lady behind me moved over behind me as well to give room, then as I was accelerating back into the proper lane, I realize she is trying to pass me and not give me right of way. I ended up having to run off the road or face hitting her, which I chose to go into the grass instead. I had to wait until about 20 cars behind her passed me too before I could move back over.

The interesting thing is, at the next light I was right beside her and no "progress" was made...

Why do people do this? I blame the "me first" attitude and their parents.


The truth is the truth.

Originally Posted By: CivicFan
Why don't we have a yellow light before the light turns green? The rest of the world has it and I think it's a pretty good method of preparing the drivers for the green.


I like that idea, actually. You might have a few less red-light runners over time, as people can't assume what a yellow means anymore if that's the only color they initially see, hence the need to PAY MORE ATTENTION, instead of doing whatever else may be perplexing you, yes you the driver!

 

[lexus114]

Depends on how impatient I am that day.

 

[occupant]

This topic reminds me to find a set of those dissonant 4-note Cadillac horns for my Torino. People around here ignore green lights. A LOT!

 

[Cogito]

How about people that don't turn right on red lights when it is permitted? It seems to me like there a lot of these folks out there. Even after I tap my horn, many of them will still not budge. I don't get it.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: Cogito
How about people that don't turn right on red lights when it is permitted? It seems to me like there a lot of these folks out there. Even after I tap my horn, many of them will still not budge. I don't get it.


That happens alot down here also.

 

[FusilliJerry82]

My dad honked at an unmarked police car that wouldn't turn at a red. The cop got out and sternly asked what the problem was. My father said, why don't you turn on red and the cop said, I don't have to if I don't want to.

I don't understand that, you treat a red light like a stop sign when turning right and its not acceptable to sit at a stop sign with no conflicts for an extended time.

 

[mjoekingz28]

Originally Posted By: kkreit01
It depends on what part of town I'm in. Near our home ('burbs), I'll give a tiny toot after ~3 seconds. Near my work (not-so-good part-of-town), I'll wait all day.



One guy was sitting there for a good half minute at a green light so I tapped the horn. He started looking around and rolled down the window to his Escalade and drove off real slow.

I now carry a gun because of him.

 

[bigmike]

Originally Posted By: FusilliJerry82
My dad honked at an unmarked police car that wouldn't turn at a red. The cop got out and sternly asked what the problem was. My father said, why don't you turn on red and the cop said, I don't have to if I don't want to.

I don't understand that, you treat a red light like a stop sign when turning right and its not acceptable to sit at a stop sign with no conflicts for an extended time.


I'd have asked him, well are you parked here? If so, you're illegally parked and I expect you to stop impeding traffic.

 

[punisher]

I have been behind the wheel 30+ years.

In that time I may have honked at another driver 5 times. The last time I had to honk at a driver (who was backing into me in a parking lot) I forgot where the actual horn buttons were on my Grand Marq, and ended up with a love tap from the other driver.

Here in S TX, I am usually cautious about honking at other drivers. They might have a bigger gun and a shorter temper than me. At my age it is harder to reach under the seat, and get the 45 out of the holster than most. Civility maintained.

 

[antonmnster]

I wait about 1/3 of a second.

 

[mtxjohn]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
after about 2 full seconds they get a courtesy tap on the horn "BIP"

By 5 seconds they get a full on "HONK!"


Good call. I actually zoned out (probably the 2nd or 3rd time in my lifetime) at a redlight which turned green and the guy behind me gave a little BIP. Woke me the [censored] up. I was watching cross traffic not the light. So I'm glad he did that. If you sit at a green for a few seconds without the guy giving you a gentle reminder you feel like a real fool by time you see it-knowing full well everyone was waiting for you lol.

 

[glum]

Originally Posted By: bigmike
I used to have an air horn hooked up in my old truck. I think that thing gave people heart attacks when it went off. Anyone that pulled out in front of me got to hear it. Some people almost drove off the road.

I want to get one of these--or at least a really loud regular horn--in my Sonata. The OEM horn in that thing is just embarrassing. Never swapped a horn and it's awfully hard to tell what they sound like on the shelf or online though...

 

[hardcore302]

You guys are to patient. Pay attention when operating a two ton machine.