just consider this when you sound your horn to vent your anger at another motorist

I don't under why people might do thus?

A lot of people toot their horns unnecessarily. It is an offence so if people are prosecuted it's their own fault.

Exactly.

He 'hooted' his horn - made me smile.

This sounds really petty. I deduce from the report saying it was dealt with in court although it could just have been a fixed penalty because the accused did not respond thatthe fine has more to do with attitude, at the time the horn was started than anything else.

One rarely hears horns anyway. We live in the cente of a busy town and we rarely hear horns any more than when we lived in a amore rural area. We also drive on motorways and dual carriageways and, as I said, rarely hear horns.

As I said I think this fine was more to do with the attitude ofthe driver than anything plus the policeman being a jobsworth as well.

A officer of the law upholding the law isn’t a jobsworth. It is his literally his job.

The policeman had suspected the driver of the van of speeding in a 20mph zone on the approach to the station which is in a residential area.

Then he repeatedly sounded his horn to attract the attention of another person. The law is clear on this.

What is the point of having laws if they can be broken without penalty?

PC Asa Smith told a court he had started watching Spence’s Ford Transit van after suspecting the driver was travelling over the 20mph speed limit on his approach to the train station.

When outside the station, subject vehicle hooted horn a number of times to try and get the attention of a friend, not for the purpose of warning other road users,” the officer wrote, in a statement to Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

I know I’ve been distracted when driving by other drivers sounding their horns, only to see they are waving at someone they know walking by. Or, as is becoming increasingly common, one bloke in a white van with a flag tooting at another bloke in a white van with a flag.

Or woken by neighbours’ visitors sounding their horn when they are leaving at 2:00am. Why?

Isn’t it like the boy who cried Wolf!? If the horn is used for purposes it wasn’t mean for then eventually people won’t react when danger is being signalled.

Outrageous.

Whilst stuck in traffic last year in a City we saw two men run out of a shop with display boxes full of chocolates and some beers, they stuffed their rucksacks with the loot and cycled away, there was a Police car sitting in the queue, they could have reacted over but didn’t.

My husband complained to Police and asked why nothing was done, they denied any Police were in the area at the time!

Also the many pavement cyclists and electric scooters we used have to dodge was crazy, the cycle lanes were empty and the pavements full, again Community Police told me it was a hazard living in the City and they had better things to do.

Yet some poor guy was prosecuted for blowing his horn.

Shameful.

I am so glad we left City life behind.

What about flashing my lights, or is that a crime too?

PC Smith would get cramp writing tickets in the Mediterranean countries!!

MT62

What about flashing my lights, or is that a crime too?

I think it may be if you are warning of a speed check ahead!

Jaxjacky

PC Smith would get cramp writing tickets in the Mediterranean countries!!

Absolutely 😹

Sounds like white van driver was a real pr* who really annoyed the police officer who decided not to ignore it as perhaps he might otherwise have done, if only to save on writing up the paperwork.

The Highway Code is very clear.

110 Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.

111 Never assume that flashing headlights is a signal inviting you to proceed. Use your own judgement and proceed carefully.

112 The horn. Use only while your vehicle is moving and you need to warn other road users of your presence. Never sound your horn aggressively. You MUST NOT use your horn

*while stationary on the road
• when driving in a built-up area between the hours of 11.30 pm and 7.00 am
• except when another road user poses a danger.

Why do people think the code doesn’t apply to them?

I suspect if there was regular driving retest including a test on the Highway Code a lot of people would fail.

They hoot all the time here. It makes me sick. Not much flashing,though, except to thank people for giving way. Cultural difference probably. Drivers here are not very polite, I think the uk ones are better.

nanna8

They hoot all the time here. It makes me sick. Not much flashing,though, except to thank people for giving way. Cultural difference probably. Drivers here are not very polite, I think the uk ones are better.

Unfortunately not, Nanna8. Pulling out at junctions without bothering to look seems to be the latest wheeze.

My father used to swear at bad drivers rather than using the horn. I'm sure he felt better afterwards. His swearing was mostly directed at drivers who cut it very fine when overtaking on country roads, especially those oncoming overtakers.

MT62

What about flashing my lights, or is that a crime too?

I hate it when people flash their lights - it makes me really anxious that I have a dodgy wheel or there's something hanging from my car - even on the motorway when it's probably intended for someone else.

Once I even pulled over - I was going pretty fast for the road, as was on daily commute, someone behind repeatedly flashing lights - to be let past, as there was nothing wrong with the car but I had to get out & check. Guess he was late for a plane - couple of miles from airport.

valdali

MT62

What about flashing my lights, or is that a crime too?

I hate it when people flash their lights - it makes me really anxious that I have a dodgy wheel or there's something hanging from my car - even on the motorway when it's probably intended for someone else.

Once I even pulled over - I was going pretty fast for the road, as was on daily commute, someone behind repeatedly flashing lights - to be let past, as there was nothing wrong with the car but I had to get out & check. Guess he was late for a plane - couple of miles from airport.

Many years ago in Spain that was a ploy by thieves to get you to stop. 🤬

I sometimes warn people if there is a speed camera, but not bmw, Audis, or van drivers. Pj1

He was just being an idiot Valdali. I certainly wouldn’t do that.
I won’t bother flashing anyone now if it’s a hefty fine.

Yes, do be careful.
My father was pulled over for doing exactly this years ago.
He wasn't charged but was seriously reprimanded.