I honked my car horn yesterday, which is unusual for me.
I’m not an impatient person. If I’m sitting at a red stoplight and the car ahead of me doesn’t take off immediately when it turns green, I don’t automatically hit the horn. Usually people realize the light has changed and they take off within a few seconds.
If someone is entirely distracted, sorting through his center console or gazing out the window, I will use my horn, but as lightly as possible. Just a friendly reminder. No one ever sits at a light on purpose, so when they hear the quick toot of the horn, they generally take off in a rush.
I don’t honk if people pull out in front of me either. If someone is in such a terrible rush, it’s best to just wave and let her hurry on her way.
It’s another matter if a car is coming toward me and it seems that the driver doesn’t see me. If a car is backing up dangerously close to my car, I will hit the horn. Remember driver’s education? The horn is to be used in emergencies only.
Although I admit I use my horn to greet people. When I drive past my parent’s house on County Road 7, I give the horn a quick tap to let them know I am thinking of them. If I see a friend walking through town, I sometimes honk to get them to wave.
But yesterday I used the horn in my car—pressing the center of the steering wheel soundly and loudly— to let a young man know that he had put himself in danger.
I was heading up to the school for something, to take a photo or do an interview. I was in a bit of a rush. I was parked behind the Cook County News- Herald office, so I came out of the little road by the Visit Cook County office, across from the Grand Marais Library, onto Highway 61.
It’s a tricky spot from which to enter Highway 61. There are generally cars parked along the street, somewhat blocking the view. So I usually make the easiest entry, turning right instead of trying to cross two lines of traffic. I travel a block and make a left turn onto First Avenue by Arrowhead Pharmacy, where there is still a lot of traffic, but there is a clear view of oncoming traffic. It just seems easier to me.
As I followed this route yesterday I could see two young boys on bicycles on the sidewalk in front of Hughie’s Taco House. They were travelling at a pretty good pace and as I neared the corner for my turn, I wondered if they were going to stop when they came to First Avenue.
As I got to the corner where I planned to make a left turn to go up the hill, I paused for an extra second to see what the boys were going to do. It was a good thing. One stopped. The other did not.
The younger of the two sailed right through the intersection and motherly instinct took over. I hit the horn as a caution and out of concern. What if I hadn’t been paying attention? What if I was an impatient motorist who had gone around the block three times looking for parking? What if I was feeling ill and in a hurry to get to the pharmacy for a prescription? What if the bicycles hadn’t caught my eye before I turned?
The young man looked back over his shoulder, so hopefully, it registered with him. Hopefully he was reminded that he needs to watch for traffic turning, not just directly in front of him.
The older boy definitely got my message as I added a hand gesture as I went by. Nothing rude, I just gave the “eyes forward” motion and mouthed, “You watch for cars!”
I’m sorry I scolded him, as he did what he should have done. But hopefully he’ll share the message with his friend. Hopefully they won’t shrug off the horn honk as the reaction of a cranky old lady. Hopefully they get the message that we should all heed as summer traffic increases. Slow down and pay attention!
We should only have to use our horns for the happiest of reasons.
Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead.
Mac McCleary
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