[zarzavat]

> In driver's ed they tell you to not to use your horn when you're annoyed at other drivers

This is definitely not a cultural universal. Different countries have different practices. In some places the horn simply means “I’m here, check your mirrors”, in other places it means “You bastard!”, and in some other places it means “We are both stuck in traffic let’s make as much noise as possible to pass the time”

> only use it if there's an imminent danger to avoid a crash

Therefore the difference between the horn being readily accessible and being hidden away could be the difference between life and death.

[letitbeirie]

> Therefore the difference between the horn being readily accessible and being hidden away could be the difference between life and death.

Being readily accessible is a must. The point I was trying to make (poorly; it was late) was that having the horn button in the middle of the wheel is about the worst place imaginable if you lay on the horn to avoid a crash and it happens anyway, because some portion of your arm is probably going to be broken when it gets crushed between an exploding airbag and your rapidly-decelerating body.

[watwut]

And in others is it simply infraction worth of fine to use it in cities or nearby buildings for anything except danger.