car horn (Chicago: neighborhood, live, cars)

[popdivision]

I've been wondering since I moved here why drivers honk a horn each other? For example, after one driver honk, another does. Is it competition or driver's manner like "Thank you" or "Sorry"? It's stupid to hear they honking each other until either stops sometimes.

[Chicago60614]

cabs?

[popdivision]

All types of cars.

[Fieldriver]

The alley honking seems exaggerated. Like someone is not going to look out for a crossing vehicle at the intersection of a sidewalk and an alley? So you gotta honk three times but not come to a stop (or at least a crawl)? And doesn't the pedestrian have the right to cross first if she arrives at this "intersection" first? Seems like a lot of drivers are kind of clueless about this etiquette.

[oddstray]

My guess would be, they're just being glassbowls. It got so bad some time back in the 60's that the police started issuing citations for unneeded noise.

[UrbanAdventurer]

It's an east coast thing. I know, Chicago isn't the east coast, but it takes after the east coast much more so than the west. People love their horns around here. Not as big of a thing out west.

[NARFALICIOUS]

I honk at driver's who don't go at a green light.
I honk coming out of an alley.

Considering how quiet cars are becoming every year, it's best people honk coming out of an alley to warn people walking by. There's nothing wrong with it.

[marpot]

Originally Posted by Fieldriver

The alley honking seems exaggerated. Like someone is not going to look out for a crossing vehicle at the intersection of a sidewalk and an alley? So you gotta honk three times but not come to a stop (or at least a crawl)? And doesn't the pedestrian have the right to cross first if she arrives at this "intersection" first? Seems like a lot of drivers are kind of clueless about this etiquette.

You'd *think* people would look when they com to the intersection of an alley, but in my neighborhood they usually don't. SO even if I slow to a crawl and stop, I'm still likely to find a person trying to cross and then being all poopy if I didn't honk. So I just do one honk as I'm coming out at the same time driving slow enough so I am prepared to stop.

Traffic honking I understand, I use my horn as a way to tell people (usually cabs) that I think almost hitting me to cut me off or make a light is a jerk move. Probably not very effective, but whatever, look where you are going, jackhole. Heh.

I think it is far more annoying that people double park as they wait to pick someone up and then just honk repeatedly until the person comes out of the house/building. I mean after a few minutes of laying on the horn, just go knock on the door or call them up. Sheesh.

[tribecavsbrowns]

Car horns are grossly overused. As a pedestrian, I'd say it's about 80 percent childish "I didn't get my way" or "I want to go now and I can't" reaction, 15 percent people coming out of alleys who refuse to believe that stopping and looking both ways is something they should do instead, and 5 percent legitimate response to another driver's mistake.

[marpot]

I think it is really funny that everyone gets all mad about honking in alleys. As I said before, if people WALKING would also LOOK where the heck they are going, maybe drivers wouldn't have to take extra precautions so as not to hit someone listening to their stupid ipod. Or, as in my neighborhood, where everyone is too poor to walk around with ipods, they walk right out because they don't care or think it is funny to antagonize other people.

I think alley-honkers are ultimately trying to alert dummies who walk who are ALSO not paying attention. I mean, I know that there are a lot of people that only honk and then just blow right through, but also, there are people that are driving who are just trying not to run over pedestrians that have NO CLUE.

I understand being a pedestrian, I lived in this city for 10 years without a car, BUT, it goes both ways.
If you are walking, PAY ATTENTION at intersections, even the intersections of alleys.