Have you ever driven your car without using the horn for a whole day. I tried it today and the experience was amazing.My mouth became the horn, cos i shouted severally, comot for road, you no dey look, hahaha, its not an easy one oh. if u don't have patience, u may end up blasting your horn and loose the fun of it. Share your experience if you have.

I have not used my horn for over 2 years and I do not have to shout, scream or curse. (Joy of driving in the uk)

Driving a car without a horn? I get it, in Nigeria that is an abomination. I can drive a whole month without using my horn. Horns are meant to be used only when necessary, but in naija it's a taboo. I yell at my brother when he drives my car and honks the horn unnecessarily People even honk at u when ur in a traffic as if they can pass even when u clear for them.

suggyspic: Have you ever driven your car without using the horn for a whole day. I tried it today and the experience was amazing.My mouth became the horn, cos i shouted severally, comot for road, you no dey look, hahaha, its not an easy one oh. if u don't have patience, u may end up blasting your horn and loose the fun of it. Share your experience if you have.

Lolz ......! I do that all the time nah
My brake and full headlights are my horn

!

evico:
Lolz ......! I do that all the time nah
My brake and full headlights are my horn

in nigeria, its very risky and in some Instance it makes the driver appear insane. imagine some careless hawkers or kids in ur drive path in a very noisy junction or bend? will you stop, rev high, start screaming or slowly drive into them? tokumbo horn is about N2,000. prevention is better than regret!

abatically: Driving a car without a horn? I get it, in Nigeria that is an abomination. I can drive a whole month without using my horn. Horns are meant to be used only when necessary, but in naija it's a taboo. I yell at my brother when he drives my car and honks the horn unnecessarily People even honk at u when ur in a traffic as if they can pass even when u clear for them.

A whole month?! That would have been extremely frustrating for me. When overtaking, I use my horn always so as to be sure you know I'm closing in beside you. This can prevent a sleepy/careless driver from suddenly swerving to my lane thereby causing accident. Additionally, some nuisance unnecessarily waste your time in traffic. A driver in front of me was chatting away with his passenger in a long traffic that was barely moving. Each time we moved probably after staying in one spot for about 10 minutes, he moved at snail's pace thereby allowing other motorists to join our lane in his front and delaying us. By the time we all started blaring our horns continuously, he was forced to quickly adjust and drive faster. The use of horn is a way of communicating with other motorists and passersby-Just like you point to left/right when turning. So I wonder how you were able to cope for a whole month with using your horn except you are not living in Nigeria especially Lagos where you will always be faced with numerous obstacles.

3ace: A whole month?! That would have been extremely frustrating for me. When overtaking, I use my horn always so as to be sure you know I'm closing in beside you. This can prevent a sleepy/careless driver from suddenly swerving to my lane thereby causing accident. Additionally, some nuisance unnecessarily waste your time in traffic. A driver in front of me was chatting away with his passenger in a long traffic that was barely moving. Each time we moved probably after staying in one spot for about 10 minutes, he moved at snail's pace thereby allowing other motorists to join our lane in his front and delaying us. By the time we all started blaring our horns continuously, he was forced to quickly adjust and drive faster. The use of horn is a way of communicating with other motorists and passersby-Just like you point to left/right when turning. So I wonder how you were able to cope for a whole month with using your horn except you are not living in Nigeria especially Lagos where you will always be faced with numerous obstacles.

It is absolutely unnecessary to honk ur horn while overtaking, unless maybe a long truck. The sound of horn can be annoying to other drivers and can make them lose control. If I'm driving on my lane jeje and u come behind me and start honking unnecessary just because u want to overtake when u could have easily passed since I'm not blocking u. Because of that ur horn, I will stay in the middle of the road thereby not giving u room, let me see how hard ur horn can go.

dgitrader: !in nigeria, its very risky and in some Instance it makes the driver appear insane. imagine some careless hawkers or kids in ur drive path in a very noisy junction or bend? will you stop, rev high, start screaming or slowly drive into them? tokumbo horn is about N2,000. prevention is better than regret!

That is why I said horns are to be used when necessary. In the case of hawkers in front of u, yes it is necessary to use ur horn but not aggressively like most people do. Some Nigerians can use their horn 30 times in a 20 km journey. I have seen lots of people honk their horns aggressively in hospitals, campuses and estates.. its really crazy. We need serious orientation in this country.

abatically:

It is absolutely unnecessary to honk ur horn while overtaking, unless maybe a long truck. The sound of horn can be annoying to other drivers and can make them lose control. If I'm driving on my lane jeje and u come behind me and start honking unnecessary just because u want to overtake when u could have easily passed since I'm not blocking u. Because of that ur horn, I will stay in the middle of the road thereby not giving u room, let me see how hard ur horn can go.

Well, I know some people do it unnecessarily and irritatingly but I personally don't find sounding your horn once or twice before overtaking annoying especially when the road is a bit narrow(but can still contain two vehicles). I see it as you trying to be extra careful so that nothing goes wrong. And please, it is also unnecessary for you to drive in the middle of the road simply because a driver irritated you by sounding his/her horn.

Siena: I can't remember when last I operated my horn - most likely was when I checked to make sure it was working, at it's annual MOT (last August).

I'll make sure it still works when we go out this afternoon, I've actually forgotten what the damned thing sounds like.

defensive driving without honking in nigeria is completely impossible. our roads are narrow, unmarked, and sometimes caotic.
in this part of the world, some drivers never trafficate or use rear view mirrors, especially our women. when we dont want to grind to a halt or brush your car, the horn is used.

^^ Oga, It is very possible to drive in Nigeria ( Lagos) without using the horns.

It's a habit I formed long ago....and no I don't also use my mouth to insult other road users as the alternative.

For hawkers, street kids etc all you need is to drive at near dead speed. I consider it that those on the road could have been my family members.

When you drive with care, you won't need the horns save for seldom occasions e.g when another vehicle backing into you and you suspect the driver is unaware of you.

For dark times I basically use the headlamps.....

leighcon:

For hawkers, street kids etc all you need is to drive at near dead speed......

that is wonderful!

dgitrader:

defensive driving without honking in nigeria is completely impossible. our roads are narrow, unmarked, and sometimes caotic.
in this part of the world, some drivers never trafficate or use rear view mirrors, especially our women. when we dont want to grind to a halt or brush your car, the horn is used.

You think our roads are narrow? Have u seen UK roads?

abatically:

You think our roads are narrow? Have u seen UK roads?

yes I have, they are well marked, planed, policed and not caotic like ours. pls don't underestimate the importance of honking on naija roads. safety first, expertice later!

Well, you have to use your horns in Nigeria. I have nearly been side swapped three times in one journey from Lagos to Enugu by careless drivers who didn't bother to look before changing lanes while i was overtaking. My horns saved me. Now i keep beeping them whenever i am overtaking. Abatically, blocking someone from overtaking you is a very bad move. Some people (me included when i am infuriated and driving my dads jalopy volvo 740 without ac and power steering) will ram you off the road. trust me i have seen it happen. Nigerians have the highest disregard for road traffic rules. Taxi drivers stop in the middle of the road to pick or drop passengers; bus drivers brake so hard you nearly run into them and they haven't got functioning brake lights; keke drivers swerve into ur lane when they realize they can't squeeze their tricycle between ur car and the trailer on the opposite traffic. Thank God okada has been banned. Jeez. Without a horn, you would probably boil with rage in your car if you drive in a major city in Nigeria.

abatically:

It is absolutely unnecessary to honk ur horn while overtaking, unless maybe a long truck. The sound of horn can be annoying to other drivers and can make them lose control. If I'm driving on my lane jeje and u come behind me and start honking unnecessary just because u want to overtake when u could have easily passed since I'm not blocking u. Because of that ur horn, I will stay in the middle of the road thereby not giving u room, let me see how hard ur horn can go.

My guy, you don't live in Lagos Nigeria, and you don't ply our highways. When you do, come back and reaffirm this your position.

BluStreak: My guy, you don't live in Lagos Nigeria, and you don't ply our highways. When you do, come back and reaffirm this your position.

I have been in lagos for 2 years now and i can count the number of times I have used my horn. You think u can drive rough, trust me I can do it better than u without using my horn unnecessarily. From Agege motor road to oshodi in the morning, or ojuelegbe-surulere or the busy 3rd mainland bridge to Agidingbi during rough hours. I ply them all and still don't use my horn unnecessarily. Oh did I forget I also drive from Lagos to Asaba without using my horn even once. You might think its impossible but when u start learning how to use ur horn less, u will realize it is absolutely unnecessary how people use horn in this country.

9icetoo: Well, you have to use your horns in Nigeria. I have nearly been side swapped three times in one journey from Lagos to Enugu by careless drivers who didn't bother to look before changing lanes while i was overtaking. My horns saved me. Now i keep beeping them whenever i am overtaking. Abatically, blocking someone from overtaking you is a very bad move. Some people (me included when i am infuriated and driving my dads jalopy volvo 740 without ac and power steering) will ram you off the road. trust me i have seen it happen. Nigerians have the highest disregard for road traffic rules. Taxi drivers stop in the middle of the road to pick or drop passengers; bus drivers brake so hard you nearly run into them and they haven't got functioning brake lights; keke drivers swerve into ur lane when they realize they can't squeeze their tricycle between ur car and the trailer on the opposite traffic. Thank God okada has been banned. Jeez. Without a horn, you would probably boil with rage in your car if you drive in a major city in Nigeria.

I'm not saying u shouldn't use ur horn. For example if ur trying to overtake someone and u notice that person is swerving towards u , u can blaze ur horn gently so the person can correct himself, that is what horns are for. Not just honkig whenever u see a vehicle in front of u. Jeez some people even use horn for no reason, I mean stuck in a non moving traffic and ur still blazing ur horn. For what, when its obvious the person in front of u can't go, the person in front of the person in front of u is also stuck, so why the horn?

Are u also in support of using horn in hospitals, campuses and estates?

dgitrader:

defensive driving without honking in nigeria is completely impossible. our roads are narrow, unmarked, and sometimes caotic.
in this part of the world, some drivers never trafficate or use rear view mirrors, especially our women. when we dont want to grind to a halt or brush your car, the horn is used.

its difficult but possible. i have travelled from abuja to lagos by bus and the bus had no horn. i observed the driver used his headlights in its place. coincidentally on my return 4 days after i returned with same bus/same driver. this time i sat in the front with him and we got talking, he said he's not had the time to fix the horn since.we actually drove to lokoja before he fixed it and few miles away from lokoja the horn failed again.

so practically, we drove to and fro lagos without a horn.

without the horn more vigilance is required.

If I'm on high speed and i want to overtake a truck or I'm in a densely populated area, I use my horns. Other than that, I don't use it.

dgitrader:
defensive driving without honking in nigeria is completely impossible. our roads are narrow, unmarked, and sometimes caotic.
in this part of the world, some drivers never trafficate or use rear view mirrors, especially our women. when we dont want to grind to a halt or brush your car, the horn is used.

On the contrary, our roads are much wider than the roads in the UK except the Class A roads which are wider.

Siena: I can't remember when last I operated my horn - most likely was when I checked to make sure it was working, at it's annual MOT (last August).
I'll make sure it still works when we go out this afternoon, I've actually forgotten what the damned thing sounds like.

That is because UK is a sane society where people naturally fall in line without the use of force. In Nigeria, most drivers have the habit of honking their horns even where it is absolutely unnecessary. Drivers are very impatient and sometimes, want attention. Then, you have the taxi drivers that blare their horns in search of passengers.

Despite the peculiar nature of our society, and the justification of its use, it can be drastically minimized.

When you drive in a sane clime where vehicle maintenance is a necessity, it won't be so much a difficulty to go days without using your horn. But in a Nigerian society where some pedestrians feel you cannot oppress them because you are driving a car, or where a lot of motorist don't drive with rear looking mirror, side mirrors and turn signal lights, the safest way to stay alive is to notify them with your horn before you overtake. I never miss that. It has been a ritual for me since I saw a Golf GTI in the late 90s set in flight on the Ore/Sagamu axis by a Benin commercial 504 station wagon. Until Nigeria is set right, lots of misnomer will continue to thrive.

abatically:

I'm not saying u shouldn't use ur horn. For example if ur trying to overtake someone and u notice that person is swerving towards u , u can blaze ur horn gently so the person can correct himself, that is what horns are for. Not just honkig whenever u see a vehicle in front of u. Jeez some people even use horn for no reason, I mean stuck in a non moving traffic and ur still blazing ur horn. For what, when its obvious the person in front of u can't go, the person in front of the person in front of u is also stuck, so why the horn?

Are u also in support of using horn in hospitals, campuses and estates?

No, I am not in support of that. Yeah, i know some folks are a bit overzealous with the horn. lol. I toot toot twice when i want to overtake a car or flash so the person is aware i am going to overtake. I toooooooooot tooooooooooooot at crazy bus and taxi drivers as well . In all, my horn gets a pretty good work out everyday. I have driven in lag and ph and i must confess, u will need to work that horn more here in ph.