Cleaning Up the StreetsI think every automobile manufacturer should now begin installing two types of horns in every car...
I was sitting at a red light the other day, when it suddenly turned green, and the car in front of me failed to move. I gave the obligatory few courtesy seconds - I'm by no means the guy who has his hand already on the horn, waiting to honk a nanosecond after the light turns green, like some sort of wild west outlaw with an itchy trigger finger - and yet after the few seconds had gone by the car still wasn't moving.
So I honked.
And immediately felt like a jerk.
See the normal horn - even if it is lightly tapped - sounds so angry and demanding. Granted, I drive a truck and so the horn is more pronounced than it would be in say, a Mini Cooper, but even so the problem is that the same horn is used for the jackass that cuts you off, the person about to back into you, the person drifiting into your lane, and simply the little old lady ahead of you in a light who you just want to gently remind, "Hey, I'm not angry - not even a little bit - just wanna say that the light's green."
But the horn says it otherwise.
It's like the Seinfeld where Jerry's bald, old uncle gets his eyebrows painted on but in a slanted fashion - from that point on anything the guy says, no matter how nice, comes across like he's angry, because he looks angry.
The horn, no matter what, always seems angry. Like you're shaking your fist and cursing under your breath, when perhaps you're not.
We need an alternative horn.
Keep the standard horn and its confrontational reputation for when we really need it but give us another horn that communicates, "Hey, I'm not mad, just wanna remind you the light's green."
The question is, what would such a horn sound like?
Perhaps a chime of some sort?
A melody? (Although people might think you're selling Ice Cream from your car and that's no good - unless of course you really are selling Ice Cream but that would involve getting a van, a mustache and a rap sheet)
What should the sound of the horn be?
posted by Adam @ 9:05 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
I'll have you know the Mini has quite a commanding horn, and to answer your question - I think the horn should be the sultry voice of the GPS lady saying "the light is green" or perhaps curtly, "green means go".
-April
i can't believe you honked behind someone at a stop light. what did your steering column lock up. did you lack the turning radius to maneuver around her. come on buddy don't be such a jerk. only kidding but seriously get a heart and realize you aren't the only person in this world.
Man, maybe I've lived in Ft. Lauderdale too long... is it so wrong to lay on your horn for five seconds when the jerk in front of you decides to take a nap at the exact moment the light turns green? If anything, the horn should be LOUDER for that very purpose. I want a frikin' train horn mounted to my front bumper- one that will blow the windows out of green light sleepers' cars. But then again, I did grow up here, so I'm probably the wrong person to ask.
I think the horn should be like your cell phone...you choose the ring/ horn. There's the "standard" ring that came with car, and b/c your not technologically savvy you just keep it, cause what do you care if you sound like every other person’s cell phone. Than there’s the talking ring, I mean horn “Hello Moto” that single handedly would scare the shiznit out of any old lady who waited a nanosecond at the light. But awe then there is “that guy” who has a different ring, (geeze) I mean horn, for each person…one may be for a hot chick he's trying to score, another for old people, the other may be for big burley sports-like men, and the last one can be for the lady in the black Lexus putting on her make up in the rear view mirror and hasn’t seen that the light turned green b/c she’s too busy applying mascara and talking on the phone at the same time (I have no idea who she is!) But if none of these ideas work for you – you can always go with the downloaded song and blast rap music or a police siren – WAIT we live Fort Lauderdale, I think those are considered sounds of nature.
Happy Driving.
haha. ive never think of such simple things, i mean its great! :)
anyway, to answer your question, being a pedestrian also, i would rather want to hear a horn that blows like a flute. it sounds like any other usual vehicle horn but at the same time, gentle. i know its not the best idea but you could always try things and see if it would work out. :)
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