A Highway Code rule many motorists fall foul of could see drivers fined £70 – and you may not even realise you’re doing anything wrong. While the horn is an essential communication tool for drivers, if you use it “improperly” you could be penalised.
Rule 112 of the Highway Code states: “Use only while your vehicle is moving and you need to warn other road users of your presence. You MUST NOT use your horn while stationary on the road”.
This implies that drivers who honk their horn while stuck in traffic or to signal their arrival when parking are breaching the rule, and this applies even if you sound the horn in your own driveway.
Additionally, the Highway Code advises against using the horn aggressively and prohibits its use in built-up areas between 11.30pm and 7am, as reported by Teesside Live.
However, there is an exception to the above rules, which states you can use your horn “when another road user poses a danger.” So, even if your car is stationary, or it’s early morning or late at night, you can still honk your horn if it’s for safety reasons such as alerting others to a hazard.
Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) aren’t limited to parking infractions, they can also be issued for breaching traffic regulations such as misuse of car horns. The cost of a PCN varies depending on the seriousness of the offence and location, but across much of the UK they are around £50-£70, with this reduced if paid within two weeks.
Ignoring a PCN, however, may result in court action and could balloon the cost to as much as several thousand pounds.
Drivers are also warned to ensure their horn is operational before an MOT test. The MOT inspection manual dictates the horn, or audible warning system, “must be loud enough to be heard by other road users”. A faulty horn risks a major defect during an MOT, leading to a vehicle failing the test.
There are even guidelines about what your horn must sound like, to avoid to being confused with emergency vehicles. Gongs, bells, and sirens are all forbidden, unless you have a classic car from before 1906, and the sound must be “continuous and uniform”.
The sound must also not be “harsh or grating” meaning novelty horns are out.
