Pre-emptive honking

People sometimes say that the French buy horns with a car attached.

Well at least they are not New York taxi-drivers:

Bumper stickers

Just because someone does not have a bumper sticker that says “How is my driving?” with a number to call, doesn’t mean they don’t want to know what their driving is like. Assume all drivers really want to know and that the ones without a phone number want to know straight away.

Pre-emptive honking

Say you’re stopped at a light behind someone who you suspect will not notice when the lights change. By pre-emptive honking before the lights change, you will make sure that the driver will be ready when they do.

(from The Times, quoting The Bad Driver's Handbook)

Comments

Anonymous said…
So you think the French are bad on their horns? They're pussycats! Try driving with the Greeks, especially in Athens, with the Arabs or in the Far East. Then you'll know what impatience is. And noise!
11:31 pm
Alan said…
or, it would appear, with New Yoyk taxi drivers...

Actually I have been dying to honk someone at the lights since we got here. Now and again we discuss it in the car, but generally the moment passes before I take action. Anyway, even if we agreed that I should honk someone, I'd have to try and remember where the horn button is.

I guess we are not properly immersed in the culture yet, are we?
6:43 am
Anonymous said…
I'm impressed, you've even conveyed the accent:- "New Yoyk"!
1:57 am
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