Car to Car Communication = Chaos

Seriously, when the primary form of communication among cars is a horn, you're just asking for trouble. According to driver's training, car horns are supposed to be used mainly to alert other cars of dangers of unsafe situations. In practice however horns seem to be used to annoy others, take out your anger, or alert other cars that they did something stupid.

The other night, I was pulling up behind a car who was still at a light that just turned green, so I slowed down behind them first waiting for them to see the sign to "go." But then once I got up behind them I honked my horn just once to get their attention. It was my way of tapping them on the shoulder as if to say "Excuse me. The light is green, so you can go now." Plus you never know if cars behind you will realize they need to stop, so overall I figure it was safer to get the car moving for the sake of traffic. The driver quickly realized and went on it's way ahead through the light. No problem.

Then there was the driver I encountered today. It was the middle of the day this time, but basically the same situation as before. I slowed down at first and then after waiting a few seconds I gave a courtesy honk to let them know the light was green. Then the car sped up and the driver stuck his middle finger through the sun roof at me. Frankly, I was shocked, I didn't realize my one honk was so offensive to this driver. I can only assume he interpreted my honk as rudeness, impatience, or even a swear word perhaps. But I didn't respond and proceeded to follow the car through the light and turned into the parking lot I was headed for soon after that. And that was that.

I shook off the experience pretty quick, but I did ponder it for a little just trying to understand the other driver and why he got so upset. So what I have decided is that car to car communication is just inherently badly designed. For one thing, most of the time, all drivers are facing the same direction, which does obviously not lend itself to helpful face-to-face communication. Secondly, the only built-in form of "vocal" communication is the horn which makes the same sound for "excuse me," "watch out," "idiot,"and "f-you" among other things. And unfortunately the interpretation of this sound is left up to the receiving driver who will most quickly and most likely assume the worst. Plus, it doesn't help that car horns are typically so loud and offensive sounding.

For the longest time I have wished there was a sign or something on cars to communicate an "I'm sorry" to other drivers, but now I also wish there was an "excuse me" too. Anyways, car culture on a regular basis is just isolationist and frustrating in general. The majority of everyday driving is solitary, stuck in traffic, passing by so many things and so many people without a care. Driving is a privilege and I do enjoy the time it gives me to listen to the radio/music, to think, and get from one place to another. However cars are just no good in terms of relationships and communication.