New-York tribune., 1921-08-21
Don't Toot Too
Much, but Don't
Fail to Use Horn
MOI Necessarily Best Driver
Blows Loudest, and Often
times the ''Hco,er" Is
Only Cause Of Annoyance
By II. Clifford Erokaw

c. 4. Automobile Schools
With about 100000 motor cars
trscistered in the United States. there
nast be at least one~terth OF the popu-
Intion OF our country who have q right
n blow their own horns. In fact, they
have not only a right 70 blow them. but
on certain occasions responsibility
N wake Vhe echoes. And on certain
ether occasions they have a RESPONSE
bility to refrain from the impulse to
h,ow sheir own horns.
Horns are on automobiles for a def
rite purpose. Ii any one thinks they
are q luxury or a piayth:ng let him
ascertain. By takin0 trip without this
particu,Sr accessory, how complicated
driving is without q horn.
Automobile drivers have the desire
IN save the life and limb Of those on
the road by blowing their horns. In
the early days electric car drivers used
bells for this purpose, as Gid the BIZ
CYCLISTS Now most cars are equipped
with horns OF various kinds and sounds
and drivers see to it, as far as is hu-
manly possible, that men, women and
children in the way go safely about
their business or pleasure, as the case
may be.
4 few drivers still persist in being
careless and talk about the rights of
the autoist. They take it that blast
o. their horn should INN ediateiy clear
the way ahead of them of all traffic.
This attitude is usually due to lis
taker notion that they have exclusive
rights in the roadway part Of the
street. whereas they think the pedes-
trans rights are limited to the side
walks and crossing walks. This notion
is augmented by the presence of traffic
regulations in cities and police to en-
force them, whereby those on foot are
herded off the road to the sidewalks
and are permitted only at certain in
.ervals to cross the road or street.
Courtesy on Both Sides
be on the road. I have never heard
to keep off the roadway, which arrest
was sustained by any court. 1t should
be taken for granted, however. that the
man on foot ought to exercise judg
ment in his use Of the road as we'll as
the driver OF the car. If each will re-
member the common rules Of cour-
tesy, there is apt to be little, if any,
complaint from either party.
Some drivers persist in making such
a constant use of their horns that
they become q nuisance They not
only signal on all necessary occasions,
br, DO a lot OF unnecessary footing
evidently because they want every one
10 knew that they are coming and to
understand those ahead must get out
OF the way. I have sometimes at
tended church when there was so much
unnecessary footing OF horns by mo-
torists that the service was almost
broken Up, and I have tried to sleep
in : house on a state highway where
the excessive blasts from the horns OF
thought-ess drivers made sleep almost
impossible.
t is taken for granted that certain
an ornt of norm blowing is necessary
Yet have ridden in cars where the
driver, in going from the Battery in
New York City to Harlem, did SO with
out half dozen blasts from his horn
He was a careful, courteous and we'll
instructed driver. Eep occupants of
car dislike having The horn over
worked.
4 driver can watch other drivers
ard pedestrians. If they see the driver
and their direction and speed Of
travel IS such that they will be out Of
the way before the driver arrives at
:,
the horn. If not seen, of course the
horn should be sounded, and the dri-
vsr's foot should instinctively 20 to
the brake pedal every time his hand
goes to his horn.
AS to Passing Others
# cne is driving in the country and
desires to pass another car going in
the same direction, it customary to
sound the horn once, that the driver
aa-ad MAJ Lot turn his car in front
Of you and so that if needed, ne may
turn . the light to let the passerby
turn TO the left. 7 ne driver of the
car ahead is judge as to when and
where ne will turn because he can see
ahead better and knows what obstruc-
tons Ire to be avoided. With few ex-
ceptlcns he will, when signalled, i'm
mediatelv give way. If he does rot,
and i Is fair 70 presume he heard the
signal, It ID polite to wait a moment
before again signalling the desire to
One also should signal just before
reaching the top of a hills particularly
Il the road be narrow, that any one CON-
ing up on the other side may be warned
and De guided accordingly Likewise,
ire horn should be blown before coming
70 4 cross roads unless there is a plain
view OF both roads for sufficient dis
1znce 70 make sure that a collision is
rot likely Ard it should be sounded
before tsAing dangerous curves in the
road.
AS rule. it is easier on ones tenn
perament and safer in the long run to
ae. TIE fellow who wants most of the