Why all the honking?

Thank you to Ana-Maria Sarria for her letter "Quiet the sirens at night." 

We also have spent much time in Europe and noticed the importance European citizens place upon respecting the right of their fellow citizens to peace and quiet.

My husband and I have lived in Kelowna for almost 30 years and currently live close to Springfield and Benvoulin, and it seems the sirens have become a nightly event. 

One other source of noise pollution that it seems is accepted here that we almost never hear when in Europe is the sound of car doors being "honk-locked." Almost exclusively, drivers in Europe quietly lock their cars with just a click, a flash of running lights and that thunk of the locks engaging.

I cannot understand why Canadians who are almost universally perceived by Europeans as polite and considerate have come to feel it is necessary and acceptable to honk their horns all day long everywhere they go.

We live close to Orchard Park, and when crossing the mall parking lot to reach stores and services farther afield, we are inevitably startled half a dozen times by drivers walking away from their cars and offhandedly "honking" their locks from 100 feet away without the slightest concern for pedestrians walking past their car at that moment.

The original purpose of car horns was to warn of impending danger ... the sound immediately initiates the "fight or flight" reflex.

It is so simple to just press the lock button on the inside panel of the driver's door when exiting or press the fob button just once. 

Susan Herwig