The futility of honking

I think the car horn is the most useless and outdated part of auto technology. Over the years, we have seen technology in our new cars improve to make car driving easier and comfortable, easy to maintain with affordable spare parts, increased mileage and safety. But, if there is one thing which has not changed in a car, guess what? Yes, I would say it is the horn. Seriously, it has more become louder and easier to horn, that’s it. Would you call that as improvements? No, I wouldn't.

I would prefer if the technology can be improved to direct our honking at the object for which it is meant to be. Currently, everybody can hear it, be it the car behind, the car on the opposite lane, and even the pedestrians walking on the side lane. So, if everybody can hear it, it is supposed to be meant for everybody, is it? And hence, everybody can ignore it, including the object that it is meant for. In this scenario, how does anyone differentiate between the honking meant for them and the general honking? I mean seriously, if I walk into a room full of people, and shout out, “Pomm Pomm,” the entire crowd would look at me with insane eyes, but no one would be able to fathom who I was crying out for. But on our roads, all acts of insanity are ignored or forgotten!!

The other problem is that of compulsive honking. The horn to announce that I am on the road, the horns 3 seconds after the signal turns green, and the horn when speeding on a green signal. Imagine the noise level if every driver decide to announce themselves at the same time. Congrats, you have arrived in life by driving your first car or bike, but seriously, who cares? Intelligent signals are a thing of the future, but in India, motorists already think the signal to be smart and not turn red before they cross. Sorry, guys, the traffic signal in India is still primitive, and no amount of honking will influence its colours. In Mumbai, I really do not have to look when the red signal turns green. I just have to wait when the cars behind me start honking!! The most irritating is the honking in the parking lots in malls. Are you trying to participate in an F1 in the parking circuit?

Honking is such a subconscious or involuntary act. It does not take any brain power, unlike let’s say, when to change the gears or apply the brake. It does not take any time or effort, nor does it cost you anything. Hence, the regularity of honking among drivers.

I think the problem of honking will exist as long as there is a human being behind the wheels. The future when driverless cars become popular and are accepted would be when we see the horn as a thing of the past in our vehicles. I may be forthright, but you must agree that honks are currently the dumbest component of the vehicle. I would love to see horns getting intelligent and not remain just a noise machine. How about horns that can be focussed on the target object? In this case, only the target object hears the horn, and not anyone else. Drivers would be in a better state to respond, when they know they are the target. Compulsive honking would also be reduced, as the honkers have to pick the target, and not just honk randomly. As this cannot be done subconsciously, it requires the honker to be alert, and this would reduce the level of honking.

But until then, we will have to put up with the menace of honking, whenever we step out on the roads, either as a pedestrian or as a driver.