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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hooting as you go round corners - outside our house

113 replies

boxcutter12 · 27/08/2025 12:14

We live on a remote country lane and there is a blindish corner outside our house. People quite often hoot as they go round the corner - and it irritates me. I genuinely don't understand why people hoot when they go round corners. There are often kids on ponies riding along this lane - hooting doesn't make any difference as to whether they're there or not. They're not going to have time to move. You also get the occasional loose sheep etc too. Basically, AIBU to be pissed off about people hooting at this corner (I think it's antisocial twattery to hoot outside a house too, but we are behind a hedge so it's possible eg delivery drivers don't realise the house is here).

OP posts:
DrPrunesqualer · 27/08/2025 12:17

I think you’re my neighbour
shall we put up a sign

Cedrabbage · 27/08/2025 12:17

I don't get it either. Just slow down and use your eyes ffs. Is this ok for horses?

GasPanic · 27/08/2025 12:18

You genuinely don't understand why people hoot ?

I mean it's obvious. Because they think hooting will help prevent a coming together/accident. Whether it actually does or not is another issue.

What is the speed limit on the road ?

applegingermint · 27/08/2025 12:18

Blind corners are considered an appropriate use of the horn in the Highway Code. Presumably the blind corner was there when you purchased your home.

RedNine · 27/08/2025 12:20

Highway Code Rule 112 in use I think?

BarnacleBeasley · 27/08/2025 12:21

If it's the sort of tight corner where longer vehicles might come round across the centre line it makes sense to let other drivers know you are there.

NewYorkSummer · 27/08/2025 12:23

applegingermint · 27/08/2025 12:18

Blind corners are considered an appropriate use of the horn in the Highway Code. Presumably the blind corner was there when you purchased your home.

This. It’s to warn other road users you’re approaching.

TheDandyLion · 27/08/2025 12:24

Its in the highway code.

TheOtherAgentJohnson · 27/08/2025 12:25

This scenario is one of the few occasions when sounding the horn is actually appropriate. They're not doing it so people get out of the way, they're doing it to alert other road users they're approaching. It's correct, and safe.

GRex · 27/08/2025 12:27

It is in the highway code. Can you put up a big round mirror? Those are brilliant on this sort of blind bend and might stop hooting by those who can see when nobody is there.

OwlBeThere · 27/08/2025 12:27

Lots of corners one this where I live. We beep so people know we are there. Common practise in the countryside.

smoulderingmould · 27/08/2025 12:27

We live on a remote country lane and there is a blindish corner outside our house

The blindish part is probably relevant...

Seeline · 27/08/2025 12:30

Rule 112
The horn. Use only while your vehicle is moving and you need to warn other road users of your presence.

They are behaving correctly!

Cedrabbage · 27/08/2025 12:32

I googled it...

Hooting as you go round corners - outside our house
OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 27/08/2025 12:32

One of the few correct uses of the horn.

TheOtherAgentJohnson · 27/08/2025 12:38

Cedrabbage · 27/08/2025 12:32

I googled it...

This is why you shouldn't rely on AI for accurate information.

PashaMinaMio · 27/08/2025 12:38

It’s probably me tooting as I approach that bad blind bend between our villages. Those young lads who come careering around towards me. It’s terrifying, and don’t get me started on the current hay trailer & huge tractors with wheels twice as tall as me. They don’t give a toss about other road users.

Im trying to save you the hassle of calling an ambulance.

toomuchfaff · 27/08/2025 12:40

I suggest you stand outside 24/7 on the blind bend with a big sign saying "DO NOT SOUND YOUR HORN,"

That should do it...

GasPanic · 27/08/2025 12:46

Gives me an idea for an invention.

You could have a sensor buried in the road which the cars trundle over. A bit like you get at traffic lights.

Then a light both ways that lights up green (sensor not triggered) or red (sensor triggered) for 20 seconds or so afterwards to warn people there may be something coming.

Kind of a halfway house between a traffic light and hooting.

Better than a traffic light for keeping traffic moving although a traffic light would be OK if there was a lot of traffic.

However, if the councils can't even fill in potholes they would be unlikely to do this.

Plus if it was a notorious accident blackspot the council would have probably already installed traffic lights anyway. Clearly it isn't seen as a problem.

RuthandPen · 27/08/2025 12:51

applegingermint · 27/08/2025 12:18

Blind corners are considered an appropriate use of the horn in the Highway Code. Presumably the blind corner was there when you purchased your home.

This. On completely blind bends on roads where someone coming the other way doesn't expect to meet traffic, slowing, having your window down and using your horn is often the only way to signal your presence. Easier after dark.

I get that it must be irritating if you live on that bend, but they're not doing anything wrong, and having a stream of ambulances coming to collect the victims of head-on collisions would also be no fun.

DrPrunesqualer · 27/08/2025 13:08

GasPanic · 27/08/2025 12:46

Gives me an idea for an invention.

You could have a sensor buried in the road which the cars trundle over. A bit like you get at traffic lights.

Then a light both ways that lights up green (sensor not triggered) or red (sensor triggered) for 20 seconds or so afterwards to warn people there may be something coming.

Kind of a halfway house between a traffic light and hooting.

Better than a traffic light for keeping traffic moving although a traffic light would be OK if there was a lot of traffic.

However, if the councils can't even fill in potholes they would be unlikely to do this.

Plus if it was a notorious accident blackspot the council would have probably already installed traffic lights anyway. Clearly it isn't seen as a problem.

Sounds like a great idea !

Although we wouldn’t be allowed that as were a dark skies area
and luckily not a black spot

ThatNaiceMember · 27/08/2025 13:15

As someone who had that car ran off after an accident caused by a blind corner (No fault accident. We were both going at/under the speed limit. Was just incredibly bad timing and their car was bigger) . I can see why people beep that said, definitely not ideal if there's people riding horses and for the people living near by.

Cedrabbage · 27/08/2025 13:18

@TheOtherAgentJohnson are you trying to tell me that a car horn doesn't have the potential to scare a horse? If in the countryside one should be aware of people riding horses

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 27/08/2025 13:28

TBH, I think it should be compulsory to sound the horn when going over speed bumps. It’s all in the aid of road safety, after all.

Maybe also when overtaking cyclists. And when parking within half a mile of a school.

We can’t be too careful.

TheOtherAgentJohnson · 27/08/2025 14:10

Cedrabbage · 27/08/2025 13:18

@TheOtherAgentJohnson are you trying to tell me that a car horn doesn't have the potential to scare a horse? If in the countryside one should be aware of people riding horses

You can't not use your horn on a blind bend on the off chance that a skittish horse is on the other side. Horses that would be scared by a car horn shouldn't be on the road. The Highway Code says you're supposed to use your horn on a blind bend, whatever Google AI thinks.