Honk If You Love . . . Safety!

I like to honk my horn. Before you judge me and picture me driving around honking at everyone who gets in my way, let me explain.

First, I am not an angry or aggressive person. I drive a Volkswagen Taos, and honestly, it does not have an intimidating or even very manly horn. When I beep, it sounds more like my car is politely asking someone to move instead of telling them to get out of the way. But I still like having it.

I don’t know why many are against honking. I live in a pretty quiet neighborhood, and I actually appreciate the quiet. My parents definitely appreciate it more than I do. They sometimes think I should just leave the horn alone. I get it. Nobody wants to live next to the guy who drives around honking at everything. But I don't think using your horn when you need it is a bad thing. In fact, I think more people should be willing to use it for safety.

Honk if you love safety.

The horn is there for a reason. It is one of the ways a driver communicates with other people on the road. Yes, I am guilty of giving a friendly beep when I drive by someone I know. That joyful noise builds community. But I am also someone who is quick to inform other drivers when they are about to pull into my lane, back into me, or don't see me. Getting their attention could prevent an accident. I'm not talking about laying on the horn because someone didn't immediately go when the light turned green. That's just annoying. I know because I have been on the receiving end of it. I'm talking about using it when there is a good reason to communicate. Too many of us consider honking noise pollution, and I believe the horn has gotten a bad rap.

I think this connects to a bigger lesson about driving: you have to pay attention to what is happening around you. Too many drivers are distracted. We all lead busy lives and carry devices that can easily distract us. When you are driving, you are responsible for more than just your own car. There are other drivers, bicyclists, and motorcycles around you. You never know when someone else is going to make a mistake, so you have to be ready for it. You can't plan for an accident, because otherwise it wouldn't be called an accident.

I have learned that defensive driving is really important. Even if you have the right of way, you can't assume everyone else is paying attention. Being technically right doesn't help much if you end up in an accident. I would rather use my horn to communicate appropriately rather than get in an accident.

One of the biggest things I have learned is to put my phone away. It can be tempting to look at a notification or change a song, but life on the street moves quickly. A car, pedestrian, bicycle, or unexpected turn can appear before you have time to react.

Speed is another issue. I have heard my parents tell me to slow down plenty of times. Thanks to Life360, they even know how fast I'm driving even when they aren't with me. The screenshot they send me is a good reminder to slow down. I may not always love getting that screenshot, but I have to admit that it gets my attention. My parents have taught me a lot about driving by the example they set, even when I don't always want to admit it. They have taught me that being a good driver is not just about getting somewhere. It is about getting there safely and making sure the people around you get there safely too.

I know I am still a young driver, and I have a lot to learn. I will make mistakes. What matters is learning from them and taking driving seriously. I also want to be the kind of driver who thinks about other people instead of assuming the road belongs to me.

And yes, I won't let the judgment of others prevent me from using my horn when I need to.

I will try not to abuse it. I won't honk because someone is driving five miles under the speed limit or because they took too long at a green light. But if I need to get someone's attention to prevent an accident, I am going to use it. Even if my Volkswagen makes it sound like I am politely asking. Because sometimes being a safe driver means making a little noise.

Honk if you love safety.