Where's that horn?

tessar · 01-12-2006, 05:11 PM

Ascending a ramp in the office building garage as I normally do in the morning, I was following behind another car by 80 feet or so. My headlights were on, unlike the car ahead. After the lead car passed a certain point, one of the cars parked on the side started backing up into my path. Apparently, that driver only saw the lead car that had passed. In the fraction of a second I had to react, I stabbed my thumb near the spoke of the steering wheel. Instead of sounding the horn, the car changed out of AUX into FM1! Luckily, the driver backing up realized the gravity of the situation and braked before a collision.

In every car that I've owned in the 30 years before Prius, my stab at the steering wheel would have sounded the horn. Toyota decided to clutter the steering wheel with miscellaneous controls that used to be only on the console. Furthermore, a scan of the owner's manual after this incident turned up nothing about the horn activation in spite of countless yellow safety boxes.

Am I the only who thinks this is flawed design? Has convenience become more important than safety? Even if we can recondition our reflexes to activate the horn by moving a hand off the steering wheel to the center, this small delay could be the difference between collision or avoidance.

brandon · 01-12-2006, 05:22 PM

No, I don't believe it's "flawed design." It's simply something you're not used to. There is no standard or expected location for a car horn "button" on the steering wheel that I'm aware of. It can be to the side, in the middle, etc. At some point, it becomes the driver's responsibility to know and familiarize themselves with where the controls are, including the car horn, so that they can operate the vehicle safely.

Chances are, if you didn't have time to locate the control for the horn in that emergency situation, it would be too late, anyway. The other driver still has to hear your horn, evaluate the situation, and then react to it. When I have near misses, I don't even bother with the horn because I believe I'll receive a greater benefit by focusing my attention on avoiding the accident. My $0.02.

john1701a · 01-12-2006, 05:25 PM

I recall quite a number of flawed designs in the past from other vehicles, placing horn buttons in various clumsy locations.

Prius isn't like that. Instead, you just give the center of the steering a whack.

It's so big of a button you cannot possibly ever miss hitting it. None of this tiny button nonsense. Just hit the area over the driver's airbag.

EricGo · 01-12-2006, 05:41 PM

For sure, your perspective depends on what you are used to. I could never find the little horn button on my Honda Civic, and my reflex to hit the center of the steering wheel was useless.

So for me, the Prius is back to the future

tessar · 01-12-2006, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brandon@Jan 12 2006, 03:22 PM
No, I don't believe it's "flawed design." It's simply something you're not used to. There is no standard or expected location for a car horn "button" on the steering wheel that I'm aware of. It can be to the side, in the middle, etc. At some point, it becomes the driver's responsibility to know and familiarize themselves with where the controls are, including the car horn, so that they can operate the vehicle safely.

[snapback]188711[/snapback]

Cars are successful consumer item partly because the basic user interface is mostly the same across all automobiles and large spans of time. Once you learn to drive one, you don't need to relearn the basic user interface to drive another. At one time, the only control on the steering wheel was the horn activator. This is arguably the most important control. Good design demands that it be the easiest to locate in an emergency. That's the reason that all my previous cars have put the activator near the steering wheel rim: It can be activated without moving a hand off the rim thereby saving vital time.

The lack of horn activation documentation in the user's manual is a serious omission at the least.

Quote:

Originally posted by brandon@Jan 12 2006, 03:22 PM
Chances are, if you didn't have time to locate the control for the horn in that emergency situation, it would be too late, anyway. The other driver still has to hear your horn, evaluate the situation, and then react to it. When I have near misses, I don't even bother with the horn because I believe I'll receive a greater benefit by focusing my attention on avoiding the accident. My $0.02.

[snapback]188711[/snapback]

What if you are stopped at a traffic light? There are cars front, left, and rear. A car pulls out of a driveway quickly and straight toward you. Your only chance to avoid a collision is to activate the horn quickly. You've only had your new car a couple of weeks. Crunch! Does your argument still hold water? When your insurance company asks you afterward, "Did you sound the horn?", what would you tell them?

tumbleweed · 01-12-2006, 06:00 PM

I've never had the problem because I've never used the horn, except once to hear what it sounded like. I thought it was a little whimpy.

Edit: Although it has nothing to do with the location of the button, I think there is a post here somewhere that tells how to change the horns themselves if you want something that sounds a little better.

tessar · 01-12-2006, 06:00 PM

In my Audi, I can activate the horn by pressing anywhere near the spokes or the large center area. It's not a small button.

Quote:

Originally posted by john1701a@Jan 12 2006, 03:25 PM
I recall quite a number of flawed designs in the past from other vehicles, placing horn buttons in various clumsy locations.

Prius isn't like that. Instead, you just give the center of the steering a whack.

It's so big of a button you cannot possibly ever miss hitting it. None of this tiny button nonsense. Just hit the area over the driver's airbag.

[snapback]188716[/snapback]

KTPhil · 01-12-2006, 06:43 PM

I'm sorry this piece of highly technical equipment requires instruction. I was under the mistaken impression that if I press that large black area in the middle of the steering wheel I'd get loud noises.

Apparently I'll need to go to Horn School to learn about activating this highly technical but vital piece of safety equipment.

Or maybe I'll put the little thumb-driven bell on the steering wheel like my daughter's bicycle has. Makes a cheerful "ding-ding" noise that can warn other drivers of my approach. Hafta remember to roll down the windows first, though...

MarinJohn · 01-12-2006, 06:54 PM

At one time in the '70's Lincolns had the horn in the round steering wheel. you just maintained your grip and squeezed. I liked that.

AlphaTeam · 01-12-2006, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brandon@Jan 12 2006, 05:22 PM
When I have near misses,

[snapback]188711[/snapback]

Sorry pet peeve. A near miss is in fact a collision. When you almost hit someone that is a near collison.

01-12-2006, 05:22 PM	#2
brandon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Manhattan, KS Posts: 770 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	No, I don't believe it's "flawed design." It's simply something you're not used to. There is no standard or expected location for a car horn "button" on the steering wheel that I'm aware of. It can be to the side, in the middle, etc. At some point, it becomes the driver's responsibility to know and familiarize themselves with where the controls are, including the car horn, so that they can operate the vehicle safely. Chances are, if you didn't have time to locate the control for the horn in that emergency situation, it would be too late, anyway. The other driver still has to hear your horn, evaluate the situation, and then react to it. When I have near misses, I don't even bother with the horn because I believe I'll receive a greater benefit by focusing my attention on avoiding the accident. My $0.02. __________________ Brandon 2005 Driftwood Pearl Prius, BC (Package #6), Delivered 10/21/2004

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01-12-2006, 05:11 PM	#1
tessar Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Silicon Vallley, CA Posts: 101 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Ascending a ramp in the office building garage as I normally do in the morning, I was following behind another car by 80 feet or so. My headlights were on, unlike the car ahead. After the lead car passed a certain point, one of the cars parked on the side started backing up into my path. Apparently, that driver only saw the lead car that had passed. In the fraction of a second I had to react, I stabbed my thumb near the spoke of the steering wheel. Instead of sounding the horn, the car changed out of AUX into FM1! Luckily, the driver backing up realized the gravity of the situation and braked before a collision. In every car that I've owned in the 30 years before Prius, my stab at the steering wheel would have sounded the horn. Toyota decided to clutter the steering wheel with miscellaneous controls that used to be only on the console. Furthermore, a scan of the owner's manual after this incident turned up nothing about the horn activation in spite of countless yellow safety boxes. Am I the only who thinks this is flawed design? Has convenience become more important than safety? Even if we can recondition our reflexes to activate the horn by moving a hand off the steering wheel to the center, this small delay could be the difference between collision or avoidance.

01-12-2006, 05:25 PM	#3
john1701a Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,376 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 9 Thanked 145 Times in 70 Posts Friends: 12	I recall quite a number of flawed designs in the past from other vehicles, placing horn buttons in various clumsy locations. Prius isn't like that. Instead, you just give the center of the steering a whack. It's so big of a button you cannot possibly ever miss hitting it. None of this tiny button nonsense. Just hit the area over the driver's airbag.

01-12-2006, 05:41 PM	#4
EricGo Three cats, one Prius, and assorted humans Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Albuquerque, NM (SouthWest US) Posts: 1,810 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	For sure, your perspective depends on what you are used to. I could never find the little horn button on my Honda Civic, and my reflex to hit the center of the steering wheel was useless. So for me, the Prius is back to the future

01-12-2006, 06:00 PM	#6
tumbleweed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 1,692 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 33 Thanked 104 Times in 84 Posts Friends: 0	I've never had the problem because I've never used the horn, except once to hear what it sounded like. I thought it was a little whimpy. Edit: Although it has nothing to do with the location of the button, I think there is a post here somewhere that tells how to change the horns themselves if you want something that sounds a little better.

01-12-2006, 06:43 PM	#8
KTPhil Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,313 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	I'm sorry this piece of highly technical equipment requires instruction. I was under the mistaken impression that if I press that large black area in the middle of the steering wheel I'd get loud noises. Apparently I'll need to go to Horn School to learn about activating this highly technical but vital piece of safety equipment. Or maybe I'll put the little thumb-driven bell on the steering wheel like my daughter's bicycle has. Makes a cheerful "ding-ding" noise that can warn other drivers of my approach. Hafta remember to roll down the windows first, though...

01-12-2006, 06:54 PM	#9
MarinJohn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,330 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 399 Thanked 77 Times in 44 Posts Friends: 7	At one time in the '70's Lincolns had the horn in the round steering wheel. you just maintained your grip and squeezed. I liked that.