The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-08-20
BLOW YOUR HORN
And Take Heed When Others
Blow Theirs

Blow Theirs
WITH about 10000 900 motor cars
registered in the United States there
must be at least one-tenth OF the pop
Il alton Of our country who have a
right to blow their W horns. In
fact, they have not only a right to
blow them but on certain occasions,
a responsibility to wake the echoes
with their more or less siren calls.
Horns are paced on automobiles for
a definite purpose. II anyone thinks
they are a luxury or a plaything,
let him ascertain, by taking a trip
without this particular accessory,
how complicated driving is without
a horn. He will soon md out how
essential this little noise producing
instrument Is in the automotive world.
Back in the so ca led good old days
before a motor car was known ON
the road. II was compulsory TO have
bells IN a horse that was driving a
a.v.EG Inc sieIgh was supposed to
be no'seless and the bells were re.
quired to give warning OF a sleigh's
approach around a curve or owe a
hill. Other vehicles had bel S on for
various purposes. The fish man. the
junk mar and others had bells to
advertise Their approach and the
kinds Of business in which they were
engaged.
With the Introduction into civil.
zation OF the bicycle, it became appar.
ent that some means must be devised
to signal the approach of this vehi-
Gle. Therefore, bel were placed on
bicycles The automobile with its
horn is simply a logical development
in the processes Of evolution, In the
process. however, the purpose of
creating a noise by bel or horn has
quite reversed itself. The bicycle
bell was sounded for the purpose OF
letting folks know the rider per-
ceived them ahead and was making
all possible pans to avoid rum ng
over them, il they did not move or
alter their course Of procedure. In
those days everyone understood that
the pedestrian had the first right to
the road whereas the automobile
horn has developed into an lnstru
ment of terror to warn the poor pc.
destrian that a vtlicio approaches at
an unknown rate Of speed and that
the sc cond has come for h I'm to make
Immediate plans for his own personal
salty.
A few drivers still persist in being
careless and talk about the rights Of
the autoist. They take II that a
b asst of their horn should immediate.
ly clear the way ahead OF them of all
traffic. This attitude is usually due
to a mistaken note on that they have
exclusive rights in the roadway part
OF the street, whereas they think the
!, pedestrians rights are limited 10 the
, sidewalks and crossing walks. This
notion Is augmented by the presence
OF traffic regulations in cities and 20
ace TO enforce them, whereby those
III foot are herded off the road 10
the sidewalks and are permitted only
1t certain Intervals to cross the road
II street.
Some drivers persist In making
ouNh q OOHStuHl use vi tnelr NOfns
hat they become a nuisance. They
not only signal on all necessary o.
, casions, but do a lot OF unnecessary
footing evident y because they want
3 everyone to know that they are com
nc and to understand that those
ahead must get out Of the way.
| IL one is driving in the country
, and desires to pass another car going
, n the same direction, II Is customary
o sound the horn once that the
driver ahead may not turn his car
n front OF you and so that II needed
lie may turn to the right to let the
lasserby turn to the left. The driver
Of the car ahead is Judge as to when
nd where he will turn since he can
see ahead better and knows what OBJ
t%ructlons are to be avoided. with
few exceptions he will when sig.
laled Immediately give way. II he
Ioes not, and Il is fair to presume
he heard the signal, It is polite To
walt u moment before again signal
ny the desire to pass.
One should also signal Just before
reaching the top Of q hill, particu.