[inreverse]

Originally Posted by anainar

Do you drive in Karve road often? Because I was cursing a Pajero for honking relentlessly!! Just kidding..

I agree with Pune traffic though. It is not that the roads are bad or choc a block. Just the driving habits make it worse. The roundabout in Karve Putala is height of congestion. For people with such driving habits ( or no habit ), roundabouts are meant for grid lock. And every time I found people not yielding to vehicles already in the roundabouts.

Nainar

I do have a Pajero and no I don't drive in the Karve Road area I can be found loitering and honking in Shivajinagar - Aundh belt

Cheers!!!

[supercars]

I honk so that people are careful when they are crossing and vehicles do not drift into my lane.

[vinaydas]

I agree that people in the west take a Honk as a sign of aggression/abuse.The story in india is different
Imagine a Cow is standing in front of your car.Will your flashing of lights/indicators or any other way of signaling the person in front work? No
similarly this is the state of people walking on the road when there is a footpath properly built,Crossing streets where there are no stop signs and zebra crossing etc.
the same is the state of other cars/bus/trucks/pesky autos and bikes.They hog up the faster lane driving close to a snails pace.
frankly speaking 70% of indians dont deserve 4/6/8 lane roads simply because they dont realize the logic behind these roads.

[revtech]

Originally Posted by vinaydas

I agree that people in the west take a Honk as a sign of aggression/abuse.The story in india is different
Imagine a Cow is standing in front of your car.Will your flashing of lights/indicators or any other way of signaling the person in front work? No
similarly this is the state of people walking on the road when there is a footpath properly built,Crossing streets where there are no stop signs and zebra crossing etc.
the same is the state of other cars/bus/trucks/pesky autos and bikes.They hog up the faster lane driving close to a snails pace.
frankly speaking 70% of indians dont deserve 4/6/8 lane roads simply because they dont realize the logic behind these roads.

couldn agree with you more on that.i fail to understand why peoply walk on the road despite having a well paved footpath to walk on.

[prince_pervez]

Originally Posted by Gurpartap Singh

To entertain myself.

Wahahaha, man you must be some music director or something, trying to pick up tunes from anything that makes sound. Anyway totally made my day and I can laugh aloud coz no ones in office.

Originally Posted by sohail99

I never honked even once since I learned to drive!(3yrs ago)

Actually, my dad rarely used the horn while driving and I quite liked the idea.

I just try and predict the direction in which the vehicles/bikes etc. might turn and remain alert. And seriously, I've never felt the need to honk.

Thats quite a feat. You got to teach us how you manage that.

[Gansan]

I have tried to drive with a very light hand on my horn many times, but failed. I don't think it is possible (or even advisable) in city traffic.

[girishglg]

Honking has become a very necessary part of our driving lives no matter how much we want to curb that practice.

Necessarily honk at intersections because all of know how much people care to slow down and proceed else refrain at every other instance.

[speedsatya]

I try not to honk at all .
But here in Bangalore , all the morons start honking at red lights . Dunno if they beloeive this would make the signal turn green faster !

Couple of times , I have seen drivers honking unnecessarily when driving in the city .

[apachelongbow]

I honk to make people move out of my way. This after repeated flashing of headlights has no effect. Honking is the only way for moving drivers speaking on mobile phones.

I also honk when I am at speed overtaking a standing vehicle. This is for morons who want to cross in front of the stationary vehicle and dart across the road. This honk is a long sustained one like a train crossing a platform

[roy_libran]

When in ROME, do as the ROMANS do!

Every time I have been back in India, after an extended stint in Europe or North America, I have tried to (HONESTLY TRIED TO):
- Tried sticking to driving in lanes
- Tried to religiously give way to vehicles coming from the Right Hand Side
- Tried not to HONK
- Tried to give right of way, to on-coming vehicles on Major roads
- Tried not to encroach upon the space for 2 Wheelers and Pedestrians
- Tried to allow Pedestrians to cross as a priority

On every single attempt, within a single day's time, I have felt like an absolute IDIOT! Every single person, vehicle etc. starts taking you for granted and tries to push you.
So, I have been forced to go back to what is usual out here.

I know it is a sorry excuse to make, but it is the truth.

[AbhishekB86]

Why I Honk :

1. Because the man ahead of me is too distracted on the phone and refuses to move after the signal.

2. Bikes cut into my lane in bumper to bumper traffic and that is irritating.

3. When Pied Piper (read : Bike number 1) is followed by other bikers on a signal half on the pavement and half on the road and anyone can stratch my car. I block the lane after honking.

4. To announce my presence at blind spots since Indian city driver don't understand lights.

5. Too anyone in general who thinks its okay to intrude in my lane without an indicator. Sorry sir not happening.

6. Autos who stop or turn suddenly to pick up passengers.

7. While reversing when bikes and cars aren't willing to wait a second and want to squeeze in.

8. Trucks on the highway crawling hand in hand not responding to flash lights.

[Mister_M]

Originally Posted by roy_libran

When in ROME, do as the ROMANS do!

Every time I have been back in India, after an extended stint in Europe or North America, I have tried to (HONESTLY TRIED TO):
- Tried sticking to driving in lanes
- Tried to religiously give way to vehicles coming from the Right Hand Side
- Tried not to HONK
- Tried to give right of way, to on-coming vehicles on Major roads
- Tried not to encroach upon the space for 2 Wheelers and Pedestrians
- Tried to allow Pedestrians to cross as a priority

On every single attempt, within a single day's time, I have felt like an absolute IDIOT! Every single person, vehicle etc. starts taking you for granted and tries to push you.
So, I have been forced to go back to what is usual out here.

I know it is a sorry excuse to make, but it is the truth.

Ha ha ha, very well said Roy, this is true in every sense to be a Roman when in Rome. This is no need for excuse at all!

I too have a lot of mixed driving experience (often between Europe and India), never ever even attempted to honk in my whole ~30,000+ kilometers in Europe!

On the other hand, In India, my car has a Double-Roots Horn , it is always "fully" utilised. Truely speaking, I have never felt that its a safe drive if I donot use Horn while driving in India!

After all these, I can only say - if a person is able to drive safe in India (with or without using Horns), he / she can easily manage driving in any other part of this world. We can really appreciate ourselves for this "Talent"!

And on a lighter note, if "Driving with no rules followed" is made as an official competition anywhere (London Olympics comes to my mind, don't want to quote it here though ), I am very sure we would easily be the world-champions!

[raycers_honda]

I honk to save lives.I honk to put some sense into careless pedestrians.I honk so i can be at peace.If i did not honk on our roads i would probably become frustrated and kill my self.I have never had to honk at dogs or cats.Coz they have better road manners than pedestrians and other sorts of things that use our roads.
A dog will see your car and move to the side.On our roads with our pedestrians sometimes walking two in a row or three too,u honk and you get bad stares.
I dont think it would be wise in our country to drive without using the horn.Yes i agree absolutely with people saying its noisy,adds to noise pollution etc.but sorry folks i aint going to jail just coz some idiot decides to walk in the middle of the road or suddenly darts across the road.

[carzone]

Listing down some of the reasons that make me honk:

*Pedestrians: talking on phones/ texting/ chatting in middle of the road/ those who don't seem to be bothered of the vehicles on the road/ those who don't see a vehicle coming in reverse (sometimes I wish to have reverse horns!) and many other illiterate types.

*Vehicles: stopping in middle of the road/ trying to park just at a junction/ parking bang in front of my building gate when there's enough space ahead(this makes me go mad!)/ those who think keeping ORVM's open can break them/ those who keep ORVM's open for a formality/ those who change lanes at their will. Can't think of any more of them now.

*Animals: A small honk for dogs only if they come in my way(by mistake) and they even acknowledge the horn (pedestrians normally turn a deaf ear). Actually don't honk to cows and other animals as they never move out.


Have figured out a way to teach pedestrians a lesson. May be wrong here but it works sometimes!
I normally honk from a distance, but when they don't pay heed, I get very close to them and then brake at a very small distance and then honk. Belive me, it scares the hell out of them and they MAY remember this incident next time before crossing the road.

Well these many incidents are enough to make driving on Indian roads stressful. Can't think of any other reasons now, but I am sure will find many more in future!
If one drives in India without honking, he is bound to reach about 15-20 minutes late to his destination depending on the distance and the road. (Not applicable to some of the highways).

[dezrskb]

Having travelled to US and Europe, I understood how sparingly they honk there. But its also equally true that they are quite disciplined drivers there and this itself drastically reduces need for honking. But here I have to honk because -
1. Jaywalking rampant. People cross at their will and also leisurely as if they r walking in their garden
2. Bikers assume all lanes are theirs to use that too all at once. No regard for their or others safety.
3. Animals wander freely on road. But most cattle and dogs are immune to honking.
4. Vehicles coming at me on wrong side of the road - they don't want to waste fuel by taking a U turn further and coming by correct lane / side of road. Very optimistic !!
5. Bikers driving and simultaneously speaking to a pedestrian but not stopping!! Also 2 bikers driving side by side leisurely and chatting, meanwhile occupying half the road.
6. My flat watchman - to make him open the gate.
7. Cars parking on road/ waiting for parking slots.

Well.This list can be endless.