Question: Why do people honk at you when you're backing out of your driveway?

[w4x]

I've had this happen a couple times in the past few months always in the morning in broad daylight and can't really understand why people bother do it.

I mean, you'd think everyone would be an expert at checking for cars on the road you live on especially if your backing out of your driveway what, like 3-5 times a day? It's not like I live on a major street or anything, just a side street within a residential block.

I've never honked anyone backing out of their own driveway or have seen any accidents from people backing out of their own driveways. Plus if they have the time to honk at you, you'd think they would also be able to stop or speed up. Perhaps they're tying to be pricks or they think everyone's as bad a driver as themselves? Your thoughts?

[Geologic]

You gotta understand, there are dumbasses everywhere. The only safe way to drive is to assume everyone is a complete moron on the road. They honk at you for their own saftey to let you know that there is a car coming, just in case.

I can understand how it's annoying but some people are like that, they like to make an effort to be overly safe.

[HighFlyer]

That's because the drivers in our area don't LOOK before backing their car out onto the street. The biggest offenders are the SUV drivers.

[Kickus_assius]

Office Space?

[FastFokker]

I never honk, but I probably should start.. it doesn't do any harm to honk.. but it can prevent an accident and considering how terrible insurance rates are these days, nobody wants an accident.

I *ALWAYS* back into parking spots because backing out is just difficult and dangerous.

I think I will start giving a little tap of the horn just as a friendly notification that I'm coming, so stop backing up.

[Nyte]

Maybe you live near this guy?

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230261

[CodecX81]

the car horn is the most abused part of the car.. I hate people who honk when the lights JUST turned green.. Or even better, honk when the opposite light has turned red, so both lights are red... they honk for...? To make the light green? To make you run the red?

(Looking at you, Woodbridgers ...)

Regardless, its one of those things that makes me want to install little blades that slip out the back and cause their tires to slash for being ignorant ;)

[urameatball]

It's a communication thing,

If you're backing out and you see a car coming, but you still to slowly back out to the end of your driveway before stopping, you'll get a honk. If you're still moving, the other car doesn't know if you see him or not, hence the honking.

Otherwise, if you see the car and immediately stop backing up, the other car will know that you see him and he probably won't honk (probably).

[waitin4BOOST]

I honk when coming around a blind corner. ie. parking garages.
Some people speed through garages like a slalom course.

~Force of habit

[teknoluv]

The only safe way to drive is to assume everyone is a complete moron on the road.
Agree. On the road, I take everyone else as a dangerous driver. Don't even expect them to know how to drive, or read the sign, because most don't.

[m77m7]

When you back out of your driveway, don't back out to the very end of it. Being predictable when driving (in general) is the best thing you can do.

The assumption that you're gonna stop at the very end is the same assumption that you don't see them coming and will end up hitting them.

[deep]

I always assume everyone else is an utter moron, and just for good measure, I assume I am one too. Complacency is the root cause of a lot of accidents. I have only had one two-car accident (when I was 18) and I was completely at fault because I just assumed my trip would be the same one I made 4 times a day, every day.

Just because you do something often, don't assume it's easy or old hat, especially when a few thousand pounds of accelerating steel (ok, maybe plastic) are involved.

[Amuthini]

better safe than sorry.

[CSR]

So how many do you know.... ?

Watch Out! / It's Green : Short

Hi/I'm here: Short - Short

Fcuk You: Short - Longgg

I can't hear you/ get out of my way: Longg - longgg - longgg - longggg

Leafs/Canada Win @ hockey: Short- short - short - long

Move, get out the way! - Longggg

[thelefteyeguy]

Leafs Win @ hockey: Short- short - short - long

hmm...never hear of this one.

[FastFokker]

S - short short short
O - long long long
S - short short short

[Geologic]

Leafs Win @ hockey: Short- short - short - long

hmm...never hear of this one.

probably cause they haven't won anything significant in a long long time for anyone to remember. :lol:

[Shook1s]

I've had this happen a couple times in the past few months always in the morning in broad daylight and can't really understand why people bother do it.

I mean, you'd think everyone would be an expert at checking for cars on the road you live on especially if your backing out of your driveway what, like 3-5 times a day? It's not like I live on a major street or anything, just a side street within a residential block.

I've never honked anyone backing out of their own driveway or have seen any accidents from people backing out of their own driveways. Plus if they have the time to honk at you, you'd think they would also be able to stop or speed up. Perhaps they're tying to be pricks or they think everyone's as bad a driver as themselves? Your thoughts?

PROOF THAT THEY WILL ISSUE A LICENSE TO ANYONE.

Its funny in my travels out side of North America a quick beep is a "hey ... heads up ... I am here" or a friendly "look out ... you may not see me" and even "go ahead". But in North America (TORONTO ESPECIALLY). People are ready to KILL if they hear a horn.

Now I don't back on to a busy street or anything, but I don't see what is WRONG with a quick beep.

[babyboy06]

;) I've had this happen a couple times in the past few months always in the morning in broad daylight and can't really understand why people bother do it.

I mean, you'd think everyone would be an expert at checking for cars on the road you live on especially if your backing out of your driveway what, like 3-5 times a day? It's not like I live on a major street or anything, just a side street within a residential block.

I've never honked anyone backing out of their own driveway or have seen any accidents from people backing out of their own driveways. Plus if they have the time to honk at you, you'd think they would also be able to stop or speed up. Perhaps they're tying to be pricks or they think everyone's as bad a driver as themselves? Your thoughts?


I have to laugh when I realize you live in Richmond Hill.
Honking a horn is a good saftey thing, but its abused sometimes, and irritating.
From my expereince, and this may cause a stir, richmond hill and markham have some really really bad asain drivers. Bought the license kind of bad. I've seen the same thing in vancouver. Bad asian drivers who deffintly cannot and should not be behind the wheel but are. (nice luxuray auto's at that.) All nationalities have their quirks. If driving in Markam and richmond hill I say, take heed.
Seriously.

PS.
And I'm not trying to be disrepectful and its not to jump on anyones back.
I do like to think I have some decent asian friends, just not thrilled with the idea lending a few of them my car ;)

[ji2o0k]

if someone honks at you, just honk back. That is what I would do if I am backing out and someone honks at me.

Basically they are saying, "watch out, I am coming" and if you honk back you are responding "Yes I see you dumba$$, hurry up"..........

I think all nationalities have some people that are poor drivers. Just that in Richmond Hill/Markham, there are more Asians hence the portion of poor drivers are Asian. Plus some of them may be new immigrants without much experience driving, so not as seasoned.

I have seen terrible drivers of all nationalities. Best mindset is to assume everyone can't drive and you drive defensively so that they can't negatively affect you.

[w4x]

if someone honks at you, just honk back. That is what I would do if I am backing out and someone honks at me.

Basically they are saying, "watch out, I am coming" and if you honk back you are responding "Yes I see you dumba$$, hurry up"..........



That's a good point. I think i'll try that next time. Hopefully the crazy drivers with their bmws and benz won 't freak out and crash into my lawn. :cheesygri

[Warped]

if ur backing out of ur drive way, you dont have right of way when theres oncomming traffic.

of course ull get honked.


they should have two different honk sounds...
the normal honk and one that pleasent to the ear. =P

[w4x]

so you're saying that everytime there is a car around when you back out fom your driveway, you should expect to get honked?

Its not like I'm backing out into the street in one shot, I usually back out 1/4 of my driveway checking for ppl or cars and then to 3/4 out my driveway sitting there checking if there are cars before going all the way out.

[babyboy06]

I'm just wondering if people normally honk at you :D
ie... the grocery store..401..#7...yonge st...your driveway....lol

They start early when they see you..haha just kidding

[mudmojo]

To the OP, have to be able to manage other driver's expectations. My expectations if I'm approaching an AT FF (I would say 80%+ of the cars on the road) backing out of a driveway, are...

- most accidents occur close to home because drivers who are close to home simply aren't as careful as they would be elsewhere

- if this person's foot slips off the brake pedal (for whatever silly reason/excuse), he's coming onto the street

- if this person continues to move in the slightest while there are cars moving in his general direction, I would not hesitate to light off a ferry horn

- AT FF = commuter car = not quite shameful but usually not pride and joy = might not care if it gets hit (If I had one, I wouldn't care). I have another term for it but you guys already know what it is.

- if it's a car that's an MT and it's not backing up fast enough to intercept, I wouldn't bother honking because it would take a concerted effort to cross paths.



Honking in traffic... I had it explained to me one day.

It's like a sheep at the back of the big herd signalling the rest of the herd to move. Call it a societal phenomena if you will.

In general, the honking is not a personal attack. I don't subscribe to the theory that Torontonians are different from any other big city breed. We bleed, breathe and cry the same for the most part. However from stats we can deduce that there might be more pricks on any given block though.

I was in NYC waiting to make a right turn from a 4-5 lane one way onto another 4-5 lane one way. Of course I was doing so from the right lane and was planning to turn into the rightmost lane of the intersecting street however there were like a million people crossing the road so really there was nowhere to go.

Next thing I know, tens of car horns start sounding off behind me and, unable to wait, taxis start initiating right hand turns 4-5 cars wide to my left. All of which I found quite amusing. Not sure the peds were too comfortable with it though but I at least shielded some of them. ;)

[joey3k]

From my memory- I was taught to honk when I was passing by a car reversing out of driveby by both a) the driver handbook and b) my driving instructor.

[aquariaguy]

From my memory- I was taught to honk when I was passing by a car reversing out of driveby by both a) the driver handbook and b) my driving instructor.

Well you're right. Better be safe than sorry :)

If he keeps on coming you'll have to swerve and maybe hit someone else head-on. Thats even worse.

[akito925]

honk at you wen your making a left hand turn.. at a light..

the car horn is the most abused part of the car.. I hate people who honk when the lights JUST turned green.. Or even better, honk when the opposite light has turned red, so both lights are red... they honk for...? To make the light green? To make you run the red?

(Looking at you, Woodbridgers ...)

Regardless, its one of those things that makes me want to install little blades that slip out the back and cause their tires to slash for being ignorant ;)

[BD006]

it doesn't do any harm to honk..

People take such great offense to honking... sometimes the person honking isn't trying to be obnoxious or an ass, they're merely letting you know.

[Shiifty]

Go to India to hear honk abuse. Even if nothing else on the car works, the horn will, guaranteed. The horn is used to tell people someone is there, since no one obeys the lane markings and frequently stop signs/lights. If you have to sleep near a main road, wear ear plugs.

[gordholio]

The obvious answer is that they honk because they don't think you are going to stop and you will hit them.