One of the most annoying things I have to deal with as a resident of Hoboken is the near constant sound of car horns going off at corners, traffic lights, and, well, just about everywhere. Its one of the worse quality of life issues I face in this town. Before, I thought it was a just a rare and minor annoyance but now I see that everyone who drives around Hoboken is rude, impatient, and trigger happy. It’s become a serious concern of mine and I really wonder if there is anything we can do about it.
Case in point… This morning I was walking to the PATH station and when I got to First Street, someone who had stopped at the stop sign slowly eased out intending to cross First and head over to Newark or Observer Highway. Suddenly, a car traveling down First started honking at the guy for doing whatever he was doing. From what I saw, the car crossing wasn’t going slow – nor did he dart out in the middle of traffic. And the person who honked didn’t appear to be going fast (although many people fly through first and that has to be dealt with too). But instead of slowing down to properly adjust for someone crossing the intersection, the driver on First St just simply honked the horn and slammed on his breaks. At that point it appeared that the honker just choose not to slow down in response to an object in his way and felt that honking would suddenly make this crosser go faster. The guy could have been daydreaming and not have seen the guy but that’s no reason to honk. I was taken out of my peaceful walk because of the loud noise.
And cars crossing the intersection get more than once! If there is a backup at an intersection, the cars waiting behind the one at the crossing honk and honk to get the person moving faster. Its as if the other traffic doesn’t even exist! Somehow, they think that honking is going to make this guy realize that crashing into another car is a risk he needs to take so that others can get to work on time. Next time, I wish they would just get up earlier and not take their tardiness out on someone else. Just because people are trying to be good about letting pedestrians cross or cars that have the right of way go through doesn’t mean they should be berated for it.
The worst offenders are the those who forget that pedestrians have the right of way. They are the ones that come speeding down a residential street at 40+ miles an hour and blow through the crosswalk like it didn’t exist. One day, someone – possibly a child – will be struck and killed buy these maniacs. But until then, I’m sure that they will honk at the people who walk – for health or for work – who dare cross the street when others are trying to drive it. I’ve been honked at (and almost hit by) so many drivers that I’ve often felt like carrying eggs to throw at then in retaliation. Of course, that is not what a civilized person does and I try to lead by example. However I have gotten into shouting matches with drivers over who has right of way.
Funny story actually… After getting into a verbal altercation with a young woman (can’t call her a lady) over me walking through the crosswalk as she tried to traverse the intersection, I was called a yuppie and that I should move out of town (because I was ruining it). And as she sped off in her $35,000+ Audi A4 luxury car, I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. Truth be told, sometimes I incite the arguments so I can’t claim total innocence here. I’ve commented on their “nice stop” or I’ve applauded them for (not) yielding to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
And before someone says it – I’m a driver and I think the other drivers are nuts! I have always driven and only recently gave up my car. But while I had it here in Hoboken, I made sure I slowed down at the crosswalks. And its sometimes hard to see the other cars and pedestrians sometimes – its not easy being a driver here. But I still did what was right and never honked at someone when they had the right of way. But I’ve been honked at for slowing down for them.
Anyway… The observation I hold true is this: drivers in Hoboken are edgy and all too quick to use their horns to express their displeasure with those who walk or cars that get in their way. Ignoring the other safety issues I brought up earlier, the horns are a major annoyance and the frequency is driving me nuts – no pun intended. If you cross the intersection, you get honked at. If you drive defensively, you get honked at. And when that happens, everyone suffers. I don’t even know what to do about it. If I think of something, I’ll let you know.
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