Photo credit: Joey Lu
by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition
Think about honking if you ❤️ conceptual art. That’s the bumper sticker I saw in a parking lot recently. Judging from the 2014 date and mention of the Walker Art Center, I think it’s referring to a modern art exhibit in Minneapolis ten years ago.
We have covered horn noise issues in several blog posts over the years, including writing about horn-based alerts and horn use in cities from New York City to Mumbai, India. In California where I live, the California Vehicle Code limits horn use to accident avoidance and as a burglar alarm. This means that owners of vehicles with horn-based alerts violate the law every time they lock or unlock their cars. Of course, I don’t think anyone has ever been cited for this violation. The manufacturers use anodyne language in owners’ manuals advising following local laws to disclaim any responsibility for violating the law. The state allows them to continue selling their vehicles here, and for owners to register their vehicles, despite very clear language in the vehicle code.
Drivers should always think about honking, whether they ❤️ conceptual art or not. Of course, it’s always a good idea to honk to avoid a collision, but pounding on the horn when stuck in traffic won’t make the car in front move any faster, will it?
But not honking the horn, even if you’re thinking about it, will help make the world a quieter, healthier, and better world for all.
