Parisian Drivers - Is There A Secret to Driving In Paris?
Have you noticed how often you hear car horns honking when walking the streets of Paris? It is a sound that is synonymous with any busy global city, but Parisian drivers seem to make more noise pressing their car horns than many other cities I've spent time in (well, maybe on par with New York and Shanghai). However, Paris is the city of light and romance so shouldn't it be quieter!
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I got to thinking. Maybe it is seen by Parisians to be necessary, and possibly their right, to use the horn on their car or scooter to prove their point and send a message to the bus, the delivery van, the taxi or the vehicle standing in their way of progress? Imagine how much quieter the city would be if people didn't unnecessarily honk the horn. On many narrow roads, you'll find cars parked either side, and so with only room for one car down the lane what could their motive be to honk? Why not just wait patiently and quietly? Or are they patiently waiting but just honking the horn to make a statement?
I'm not sure what the point of honking at the taxi dropping off its passengers, or hooting at the local resident who's dropping their grandmother off as she slowly climbs out of the car to return to her ancestral home is. Are they saying "You're in my way. How dare you impede my progress" or is there another message.
There could be a mutual understanding that I'm not aware of. I say this because oddly enough, even though the horns honk, the drivers still appear to patiently wait. It seems the message could be "I'm Parisian. The street belongs to me. You're in my way, and I'm letting you know, but I'll still patiently wait for you."
Whatever, it works and for the most, manners seem to prevail so who am I to question?
