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Honking — rude reminder of changing road culture

According to the traffic experts, a car horn should only be used in cases of emergency so as to avoid an accident.

Besides being a noise pollutant and sounding rude ethically, the use of the car horn has become a common phenomenon now. Residents and motorists, recalling the relative peace that existed on the roads a decade ago, say that the traffic congestion has made people short-tempered, violent and aggressive.

“In civilised countries, honking is considered extremely rude. There was a time when people would stop and stare at a motorist in Dubai if he honked, even by mistake,” said Mohammed Rahim, a long-time resident of the UAE.

“Times are changing now and Dubai has after all become a modern city,” he added sarcastically. “Now I see everyone honking constantly expecting the other motorist to jump out of their way in a flash,” added Rahim.

Another resident of Sharjah said: “Motorists are insensitive to several situations like, for example, they selfishly disturb the peace in the middle of the night and sometimes very early in the morning. They are destroying calm in the neighbourhoods.”

Another motorist, Amin Hussain, said several fights had taken place on the roads due to honking. “I have witnessed fights on the roads because a car honked to the one in front,” said Hussain.

“Once a traffic jam was created because one motorist got really upset after the driver of a car that was following him honked for some reason. He stopped his car in the middle of the road and walked up to the motorist behind him and pulled him out of the car. Finally, the police had to intervene and resolve the matter.”

• UAE