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Car and truck horns certainly have a valid and important purpose. However, they can also be a bit irritating if they’re overused or used in situations where it’s really not appropriate to be using your horn. In some situations, horn use may contribute to accidents and affect your insurance rates to some extent. The experienced agents from Altra Insurance Services, a premier provider of car insurance San Diego residents rely on for high-quality service, go over the basics of horn etiquette for drivers below.
Don’t Honk Out of Anger or Frustration
Honking won’t instantly make traffic move any faster, nor will it do anything but rile up that slow driver in front of you. Instead, use some restraint. While it’s understandable to be frustrated now and then as you drive, it’s not a good idea to use your horn as a source of frustration relief.
Do Honk to Alert Other Vehicles or Pedestrians of Danger
It’s perfectly fine to honk in some situations. For instance, if you notice a car or truck in front of you with an open trunk or you see smoke coming from the back of the vehicle, honking can be beneficial. This also applies when a pedestrian may be in immediate danger, as may be the case if a car runs through a red light when the person is trying to cross the street.
Don’t Overdo It Trying to Get Someone’s Attention
A common reason to use a car horn is to hurry someone up or to get another driver’s attention. It’s okay to give a short honk here and there for these reasons. However, you don’t want to get the point where you’re excessively honking or practically leaning on your horn nonstop. You’ll end up getting a lot of the wrong kind of attention.
Do Avoid Startling Other Drivers
If there are other ways to get attention without honking, definitely opt for those methods over using your car or truck horn. If you just honk randomly or for reasons known only to you, you may end up startling other drivers and contributing to accidents.
This takes us back to what we mentioned earlier. While every situation is different, needless honking that startles a driver and unintentionally results in an accident may be considered a contributing factor to that accident. Depending on the circumstances involved, you may end up being part of an insurance claim if an accident results from a driver startled by your honking.
Use Your Vehicle’s Horn Properly
When it comes to using your car or truck horn, moderation needs to be kept in mind at all times. If you do need to use your horn, apply enough pressure to ensure you’re heard but not so much that you become a distraction to other drivers. The main goal with using your horn is to ensure everyone is safe. Opt for a quick beep when possible rather than a prolonged honk. Try your best to be polite when using your horn, and ask yourself if it’s really necessary before you actually press your horn.
Using your horn in the right ways provides a number of benefits, not the least of which is the reduced risk of being in an accident. If you’re involved in an accident, it’s essential to have reliable auto insurance. Chula Vista drivers know they can trust the team from Altra Insurance Services to be there when they need assistance. For a free quote, give us a call today at (619) 404-6311.