only fools beep their horns

I always thought that in Italy it was the law that your horn has to be sounded every 5 meters of travel.

I gently beeped at a neighbour when she set off without seeing that I was already moving . The different angles involved meant that I had to pass in front of her and I had reached the point of no-return so she would have hit me if she'd carried on. Luckily, my beep did stop her in time, but you should have seen the glare she gave me. Honestly, if looks could kill ...!

Compared with a lot of other countries I think we are extraordinarily restrained here in that respect !
In Italy for example they all seem to beep their horns when waiting at red traffic lights. It just seems to be accepted behaviour.
And then there’s Istanbul! Terrifying driving by taxi drivers. I was almost too scared to look!
Similarly horn happy in the Caribbean islands.

When we’ve come back from foreign travel and are driving home from Gatwick, we often comment on how quiet and civilised (with a few exceptions of course) the roads are here.

Interestingly, when I was taught to drive in 1963 my instructor said that only poor drivers use their horn. I've always remembered that with a slight area of question.

Mansplaining?

Note: it was Mr Toad who went “Poop, poop!”

Another annoying use of the horn is by visitors (not mine), to say goodbye as they drive off. Makes me seethe!

I’d be embarrassed to sound mine. I have gone from a grown up honk to a ridiculous toot! People would fall about laughing. In fact, when I first heard it I did! It sounds like Noddy’s car!

It is mainly for a warning and saves a lot of crashes. Sometimes if you are sitting at the lights and the person in front doesn’t move when they change it is useful,too.

I peeped at the man reversing towards me a while back, he hadnt seen me, I saved us both a lot of hassle and money.

Sicily is quite an experience as well.

I have cause to be grateful for a white van man giving me a gentle beep on his horn last week, as I had driven into a lane of oncoming traffic - not realising the road had been changed since my last visit.

White van man held up the traffic to let me get back on course.

Eternally grateful for that gentle beep.

Oh yes Mattie! The roads in India
What a wonderful experience that country is

It makes me laugh, unless directed at me. (My late son always used to beep back. 😂)
In India and such places, the use of the horn is almost greater than the accelerator…

The Highway Code states that the horn is only to be used to let another motorist, or pedestrian know you are there, for example reversing round a hidden corner. It is nit allowed in built up areas. That’s the law.