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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:
Original poster
boxcutter12 · 31/08/2025 10:15

Dontcallmescarface · 30/08/2025 08:43

Why would anyone ride a horse on a road they know has a blind corner? Why are they willing to risk their horse (or them), getting injured?

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I mean, it would be impossible to ride any of the lanes around me in that case. I don't think it is unreasonable for people to want to ride their horses.

OP posts:
Original poster
boxcutter12 · 31/08/2025 10:18

BrickBiscuit · 29/08/2025 02:25

I'm not sure there is such a direct relationship in the code. Rule 112 says nothing about blind corners (or any other layouts except built-up areas). Rule 146 covers blind bends and says be prepared and adjust your speed. Rule 154 covers country roads and says reduce speed approaching bends, and be able to stop in the distance you can see. 125 and 126 reiterate this in general terms for all roads, and 144 blanket-forbids driving dangerously. Regarding horses, rule 214 says do not scare animals by sounding your horn when passing them.

Two vehicles approaching a blind bend from opposite directions and following the rules would not pose any risk. If you assume another vehicle might be approaching and not obeying the rules, rule 147 requires you to be patient and understanding. If you can avoid danger by slowing down, that is the probably the correct action. However, if they still pose a danger to you, you also need to warn them of your presence. This brings 112 back into play.

It doesn't seem that the code expects dangerous driving to be routine, though it does allow for the horn to be used in protection from it. However, my experience of UK country roads is that dangerous driving is indeed routine. While I don't think the horn is seen as routinely appropriate at a blind bend by the code, it shouldn't be surprised at it being used as such.

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This is interesting - thank you. I definitely wasn't taught to hoot going round blind corners, and I was taught to drive round here. I think it's definitely v dated. Have noticed it is older drivers who do it (apart from delivery drivers, who are all going lethally fast). So it's old people and dangerous drivers...

OP posts:
Original poster
boxcutter12 · 31/08/2025 10:21

BrickBiscuit · 30/08/2025 11:14

It is not 'in the Highway Code' as such. The specific advice on blind bends in the Highway Code is to be prepared, reduce your speed and be able to stop in the distance you can see. It does not say sound your horn.

Two vehicles observing the above rules would safely pass on a blind bend without the use of their horns. However, dangerous driving is routine on UK country roads. For that reason, Rule 147 implies that drivers can use Rule 112 and sound their horn to warn of their presence.

It's interesting that it's not actually in the Highway Code, although lots of people interpret it as such. I wonder if it used to be in the Code - have def noticed it's older people who do it. Roll on that eye test thing!

OP posts:
OhNoNotSusan · 31/08/2025 10:23

i might start doing it again Wink

Original poster
boxcutter12 · 31/08/2025 10:27

Final thing - I was chatting with a group of friends about this last night - and def noticeable that the people who hoot are also the people who have had more than their fair share of knocks on the lanes. It was actually v entertaining watching everyone working it out. So I shall cheerfully think of this, the next time some wally thinks that hooting is the right thing to do. And if one of the regular hooters ever has a knock outside our house, I shall ensure that their opposite number is made aware of their tactics. I am sure the hooters' insurers will be interested!

OP posts:
Katemax82 · 31/08/2025 10:28

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?

Surely it would spook horses

SirBasil · 31/08/2025 10:32

campaign for a) a reduction in the speed limit on the corner (we got ours down to "walking pace" by having it reclassified as a "use for everyone" street (not UK) and b) campaigning for mirrors on both sides of the blind bend so people can see

And still, we didn't manage to get articulated lorries banned, so about twice a year one ploughs into the house opposite the bend, or gets stuck going round the bend or smashes into a car parked legally because the truck cuts the corner off.

BrickBiscuit · 31/08/2025 10:32

boxcutter12 · 31/08/2025 10:27

Final thing - I was chatting with a group of friends about this last night - and def noticeable that the people who hoot are also the people who have had more than their fair share of knocks on the lanes. It was actually v entertaining watching everyone working it out. So I shall cheerfully think of this, the next time some wally thinks that hooting is the right thing to do. And if one of the regular hooters ever has a knock outside our house, I shall ensure that their opposite number is made aware of their tactics. I am sure the hooters' insurers will be interested!

I remember noticing, as a fairly new driver, that some people who said they were better drivers than others had the most accidents (some severe). Dunning-Kruger effect?

mushypeas94 · 31/08/2025 13:53

Velvian · 28/08/2025 13:34

The reason for hooting is the oncoming driver that may not be driving at an appropriate speed to stop, not so you can tear round the corner yourself. 😂

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This. And totally appropriate.

Serencwtch · 31/08/2025 16:42

Dontcallmescarface · 30/08/2025 08:43

Why would anyone ride a horse on a road they know has a blind corner? Why are they willing to risk their horse (or them), getting injured?

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Believe it or not, horses are ridden on the road to get to places, not for the sole purpose of annoying motorists.

If the horses yard is on a rural bendy road (as they tend to be) the horses are going to have to go on the road to get anywhere!

We do all we can to make it as safe as possible eg wearing hi -viz, positioning on road, listening out for traffic & alot of us wear helmet cameras so the police can send warning letters & eventually points, fines & bans to drivers who do put us at risk (about 90% positive action to my submissions) plus the majority of drivers DO have an awareness of the highway code & are sensible & considerate.

It's not horse riders who make the roads unsafe

sanityisamyth · 31/08/2025 17:23

My aunt said that she deliberately beeped /blasted/ her horn to let horse riders know she was coming around a bend. I had to speak very slowly until she worked out horses were flight animals …

MasterBeth · 31/08/2025 20:17

Serencwtch · 31/08/2025 16:42

Believe it or not, horses are ridden on the road to get to places, not for the sole purpose of annoying motorists.

If the horses yard is on a rural bendy road (as they tend to be) the horses are going to have to go on the road to get anywhere!

We do all we can to make it as safe as possible eg wearing hi -viz, positioning on road, listening out for traffic & alot of us wear helmet cameras so the police can send warning letters & eventually points, fines & bans to drivers who do put us at risk (about 90% positive action to my submissions) plus the majority of drivers DO have an awareness of the highway code & are sensible & considerate.

It's not horse riders who make the roads unsafe

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Come on. No-one is using a horse as a practical mode of transport in 2025.

You're doing a leisure activity on the public highway like a boy racer in a hot rod

Serencwtch · 31/08/2025 20:47

MasterBeth · 31/08/2025 20:17

Come on. No-one is using a horse as a practical mode of transport in 2025.

You're doing a leisure activity on the public highway like a boy racer in a hot rod

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Well their stables & field are opposite ends of the road for a start so to go from stable to field involves a road.
The schooling arena we use is 15 mins on the road to get to.
We have a sheep farm & the ewes are spread out across several fields. I use horses to check on the sheep daily. That also involves going on roads as the countryside is split up by roads.

I've never ridden on roads for pleasure, purely to get from A to B.

If you don't like horses on the roads you could do your motoring on a motorway where horses can't go.

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