Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-28

~ tor1ng game 1t was thought
~ advisable to blow the horn
on ones automobile for
any reason at all, and if there
wasn't any reason, it was still all
right and considered the thing
to do.
Then the old bulb type of horn
prevailed, and the noise 1t emit
ted from a little squeeze really did
not make much difference and
did not make much more noise
than the sound of a bell on a BIZ
cycle. In those days the So-called
F c n h horn, with its loud
squeakS, was unknown.
Automobiles, few in number,
made so much noise themselves
and were regarded as such Jug
gernautS that pedestrians fled to
the curbingS while the machines
were block away. The horn was
the least part of anybody'S worry.
But today things are vastly diff
ferent. Many motorists, like the
small boy who loves louder and
bigger f1recrackerS, loves louder,
bigger and trickier horns. And
how he does like to use them.
This always is not so good. and
their use, or rather abuse, has
become disturbing factor, eSpe-
ctally in the large cities where
there are so many automobiles
and many of them are running
in every hour of the "a.
Uses Horn Less.
It is known to be a fact that
the good automobile driver uses
his horn little. But does that in
f1uence the rank and file of the
great American motoring body?
1t does not. One particular abuse
of the horn is when there is a
traffic tie-up. Everybody is try
ing to extricate himself or her
self the best way they can. Often
a policeman is endeavoring to I'M
Snarl the tangle. It is then that
a great chorus may be heard-all
for no good reason whatever.
Another fire gu n diSturber
along these lines is the bus, and
particularly the suburban and in
tercity lines. Now, some of their
loud, ear-splitting blasts may be
necessary at timeS-out in the
country around sharp, vision-hid-
ing turns-but certainly not in
the cities.
A few private cars have at
tached these horns, and often the
smaller the car the bigger the
horn will be. Not only is this dis
turbing to peace and quiet, but a
menace to safety. Many a tinid
erstwhile chauffeur or beginner
could be scared out of his wits by
such a sudden volume of sound.
Such blast could well be compared
with binding headlights. Enough
light Is necessary, and so is
enough noise from a horn. But
too much is always too much.
Might Have Two Horns.
Motorists and bus drivers who
feel that a loud horn is necessary
to their driving might well install
an additional horn of lesser vol
unae. It would not be a financial
hardship for this added accessory,
for generally, II not always, it is
the richer man who has the loud
horn. There are few horns out
on the streets for which there can
be no excuse. These are the trick
ones that play various notes
everything from bugle calls to the
latest song hits. They might
sound well atop some mountain
along an unfrequented highway,
but certainly this form of distrac-
ton does not belong in the cities.
Recently the owner of one horn
was hailed into Police Court and
fined for making an unnecessary
noise. His horn sounded like the
laugh OF a hyena or, as the court
reporter put it, like some one
laughing up their sleeve" Well,
in that case it was the Judge who
had the last laugh. Such horns
are not warnings. They are use
less for the purpose the horn was
originally intended.
Many complaints here have
been made concerning their abuse.
Most Of these complaints have
reached or been brought to the
attention of the Director Of Traf-
nc, william H. Harland He has
turned them over to Inspector z.
W. Brown, head of the Traffic Blu
reau, for investigation and stop
page.
Commenting on them, Mr.. Har-
land states that there is no ques-
ton as to their use. 1t is abSo-
lutely prohibited in police regu-
lations, and it is up to the police
to take immediate action. In
other sections of the country sim
liar action is being taken.
New Jersey Active.
The Commissioner of Motor We
hicleS of the State of New Jersey,
Harold G. Hoffman, has taken the
right step in the abatement of an
unnecessary evil-the use of COM
pressed-air horns on buSses-and
commissioner of other States and
the Director of Traffic Of the Dis
trict could well take similar ac-
ton. For some time large buses
have used such horns, and in a
number Of cases when sounded
back Of the driver Of a small We
hicle have resulted in confusion
and the srnall-vehicle driver los
ing control and running of the
road.
In connection with these horns,
Mr.. Hoffman said, "A large num-