Use of the horn; opinion on situation

[RogueViper101]

Having my passed my IAM test (with all ones I may add) I feel like a confident, knowledgeable and considerate driver.

Myself and my dad were driving to rowing today; but wanted to pop into Tesco express to grab some milk before. This store has 10 spaces at the front just off the road; as I was indicating and starting to pull into an empty space the car on the left of said empty space suddenly started reversing out with full left lock causing the front of his car to swing out into the space I was aiming for. At this point I braked; came to a stop hoping he would look right and see me. He carried on reversing at a rate where he would eventually collide with the front of my car. At this point I used my horn to warn him of my presence as he didn't know I was there and was looking the other way; he then straighten his steering to clear my car with little space to spare.

My dad got out to get the milk; but this guy took offence to my horn and stopped behind my car frantically beeping his horn in defiance. Dad walked over and shouted 'He was trying to warn you!!"; at which point this bloke started mouthing out of the window. I jumped out; at this point pretty angry and started walking towards his car. He didn't stick around and floored it off; I guess my 6ft 5" and 18 stone frame scared him off!

The advanced driver in me made my reflect the on the situation and look for ways in which I could prevent this happening in future. I can't find anything that I would do differently; I couldn't see anyone in the car and nothing would suggest he was about to reverse quickly or apply that much steering.

Any thoughts or opinions?

Edited by RogueViper101 on Saturday 5th January 18:07

[Johnnytheboy]

Instead of beeping your horn just wait until he'd finished reversing out?

[VinceFox]

RogueViper101 said:

Having my passed my IAM test (with all ones I may add) I feel like a confident, knowledgeable and considerate driver.

Myself and my dad were driving to rowing today; but wanted to pop into Tesco express to grab some milk before. This store has 10 spaces at the front just off the road; as I was indicating and starting to pull into an empty space the car on the left of said empty space suddenly started reversing out with full left lock causing the front of his car to swing out into the space I was aiming for. At this point I braked; came to a stop hoping he would look right and see me. He carried on reversing at a rate where he would eventually collide with the front of my car. At this point I used my horn to warn him of my presence as he didn't know I was there and was looking the other way; he then straighten his steering to clear my car with little space to spare.

My dad got out to get the milk; but this guy took offence to my horn and stopped behind my car frantically beeping his horn in defiance. Dad walked over and shouted 'He was trying to warn you!!"; at which point this bloke started mouthing out of the window. I jumped out; at this point pretty angry and started walking towards his car. He didn't stick around and floored it off; I guess my 6ft 5" and 18 stone frame scared him off!

The advanced driver in me made my reflect the on the situation and look for ways in which I could prevent this happening in future. I can't find anything that I would do differently; I couldn't see anyone in the car and nothing would suggest he was about to reverse quickly or apply that much steering.

Any thoughts or opinions?

I think you're awesome.

[RogueViper101]

Johnnytheboy said:

Instead of beeping your horn just wait until he'd finished reversing out?

Would have but unless I quickly reversed he would have hit the front of my car

VinceFox said:

I think you're awesome.

Thanks

[SebastienClement]

RogueViper101 said:

Thanks

You did nothing wrong, IMO. I'd have done the same (and in fact recently did when I was in a similar situation - although without the to do afterwards)

[citizensm1th]

no red bull?

[ruff'n'smov]

RogueViper101 said:

Having my passed my IAM test (with all ones I may add) I feel like a confident, knowledgeable and considerate driver.

Myself and my dad were driving to rowing today; but wanted to pop into Tesco express to grab some milk before. This store has 10 spaces at the front just off the road; as I was indicating and starting to pull into an empty space the car on the left of said empty space suddenly started reversing out with full left lock causing the front of his car to swing out into the space I was aiming for. At this point I braked; came to a stop hoping he would look right and see me. He carried on reversing at a rate where he would eventually collide with the front of my car. At this point I used my horn to warn him of my presence as he didn't know I was there and was looking the other way; he then straighten his steering to clear my car with little space to spare.

My dad got out to get the milk; but this guy took offence to my horn and stopped behind my car frantically beeping his horn in defiance. Dad walked over and shouted 'He was trying to warn you!!"; at which point this bloke started mouthing out of the window. I jumped out; at this point pretty angry and started walking towards his car. He didn't stick around and floored it off; I guess my 6ft 5" and 18 stone frame scared him off!

The advanced driver in me made my reflect the on the situation and look for ways in which I could prevent this happening in future. I can't find anything that I would do differently; I couldn't see anyone in the car and nothing would suggest he was about to reverse quickly or apply that much steering.

Any thoughts or opinions?

What the fk you doing on PH then ?

Thoughts and Opinions , I love this bit.On seeing another driver in a position where if he did not see you could potentially cause an incident you should have waited in a safe place before making your manoeuvre, to premempt the other driver. You failked to do this. Advanced driving has a lot to do with prempting others is it not. ?? Hand your badge back in at the door with your stty superior attitude.

have a nice day

[SebastienClement]

ruff'n'smov said:

What the fk you doing on PH then ?

Thoughts and Opinions , I love this bit.On seeing another driver in a position where if he did not see you could potentially cause an incident you should have waited in a safe place before making your manouvre, to preemempt the other driver. You failked to do this. Advanced driving has a lot to do with prempting others is it not. ?? Hand your badge back in at the door with your stty superior attitude.

have a nice day

I think you should read the OP again. There was no indication of any intention of manouvre by the other driver. If he had brake lights showing (for example - could also include side lights/ reversing lights / vapour from exhaust), I'd certainly have waited. But the OP reads as if he didn't. Very difficult to preempt something like that unless you're psychic.

I don't think there's any superior attitude going on either - just a full and well written explanation.

Pipe down.

[ruff'n'smov]

SebastienClement said:

ruff'n'smov said:

What the fk you doing on PH then ?

Thoughts and Opinions , I love this bit.On seeing another driver in a position where if he did not see you could potentially cause an incident you should have waited in a safe place before making your manouvre, to preemempt the other driver. You failked to do this. Advanced driving has a lot to do with prempting others is it not. ?? Hand your badge back in at the door with your stty superior attitude.

have a nice day

I think you should read the OP again. There was no indication of any intention of manouvre by the other driver. If he had brake lights showing (for example - could also include side lights/ reversing lights / vapour from exhaust), I'd certainly have waited. But the OP reads as if he didn't. Very difficult to preempt something like that unless you're psychic.

I don't think there's any superior attitude going on either - just a full and well written explanation.

Pipe down.

He asked for thoughts and opinions not for people to agree with him. How do you know the other driver made no indication ? his presence in the car was indication enough. Pulling straight into a parking space without making correct all round observations does not bode well for the IAM course.

Pipe down ? No need to be polite.



ETA

Yes there is, or lose your right to post on the thread.

Edited by Big Al. on Saturday 5th January 18:57

[Geekman]

[SebastienClement]

ruff'n'smov said:

He asked for thoughts and opinions not for people to agree with him. How do you know the other driver made no indication ? his presence in the car was indication enough. Pulling straight into a parking space without making correct all round observations does not bode well for the IAM course.

Pipe down ? No need to be polite.

I gave my opinion further up the page based on the information the OP has given. I was merely explaining why I felt your response was not appropriate and downright rude the first time around.

I don't know what your problem is, but, reported.

[k99]

SebastienClement said:

I think you should read the OP again. There was no indication of any intention of manouvre by the other driver. If he had brake lights showing (for example - could also include side lights/ reversing lights / vapour from exhaust), I'd certainly have waited. But the OP reads as if he didn't. Very difficult to preempt something like that unless you're psychic.

I don't think there's any superior attitude going on either - just a full and well written explanation.

Pipe down.

Agreed
I quite often use my horn when I think I haven't been seen and especially when someone is reversing towards me and I'm not sure if they've seen me.
There's a difference though between communicating your presence so the other driver takes avoiding action and scaring/winding up the driver.

[SebastienClement]

k99 said:

There's a difference though between communicating your presence so the other driver takes avoiding action and scaring/winding up the driver.

Quite true. I'd give a 'friendly' pip on the horn first - indeed that sorted my situation out when I had a similar doo.

If the driver hadn't heard / kept going and I couldn't go anywhere a more defined honk may have been heard.

[FraserLFA]

VinceFox said:

I think you're awesome.

[orangeknight]

Im sure his reversing lights were probably on and was probably sat in the drivers seat - maybe better observation is due???

[SebastienClement]

orangeknight said:

Im sure his reversing lights were probably on and was probably sat in the drivers seat - maybe better observation is due???

But we don't know, do we? If his reversing lights were on then of course the OP should have waited. We also don't know whether the OP could see if there were people in the car or not. Very often I'll find myself following a vehicle and if the car wasn't moving you wouldn't be able to tell there's someone sat in. It entirely depends up on the car / where the driver's headrest is / whether the rear window was tinted etc...

[orangeknight]

SebastienClement said:

But we don't know, do we?

no we don't, he was asking for opinions -i gave mine.

[SebastienClement]

I give up, I really do.

If you're basing an opinion on speculation it rather voids it.

[orangeknight]

SebastienClement said:

I give up, I really do.

If you give up, don't post.




I stick by comment/opinion. But do agree with earlier replies and I would have done as the OP did and give a quick pip on the horn. I spend all day every on the road and see some rather spectacular displays of driving and a lot of over-reaction to a gentle horn pip even where it is due. Some people seem to think that by pipping your horn at them you are practically threatening them and asking for retaliation!

[T5R+]

OP - your mistake.......

.....after he had finished honking, let him get out of his vehicle first, uncurling your 6' 5" would have left a priceless expression on his face.



BOT - unsure what else you could have done. See no error in your approach. Unfortunately, many have no idea how and when to use the horn (similarly with main beam) but only see it as an aggressive item