Airzounds - more trouble than they're worth?

[glenn forger]

I've experienced these and many similar situations and can't think of one where an Airzound would have helped the situation. If you have time to sound off then you have time to react and take avoiding action.

It's not either/or.

You can veer sideways to avoid the vehicle and at the same time make them aware you're there. Especially if you're level when they turn. With pedestrians in the road they react far better to the horn than a shout. Even braking hard you can still hurt someone. I don't want to hurt anyone.

 

[400bhp]

Does anyone who owns an airzound not own a camera?

Just sayin

I've seen an airzound in action once. Completely pointless.

Attention grabbing waste of spaces.

 

[400bhp]

If I were in charge they would be illegal!

I'd vote for you

 

[Paul99]

shout "Oi, you TOSSER!

Technically the correct thing to do when you are trying to alert somebody to your presence. No need for an airzound.

 

[400bhp]

Since I got my Airzound, I have been shouting a lot less and as a result, been a lot calmer. It does work as a deterrent to people who are just about to chance a manouvre.
It is also incredibly useful on shared use paths. As an example, I had caught up to a cyclists on a MTB on a shared use path on my commute home on Tuesday. I noticed some peds ahead so just stayed behind the cyclist. However, I realised that the cyclist didnt have a bell and wasnt calling to the peds, so I gave a little toot of my horn. The peds saw, moved over, and we both thanked them.
Then as I passed the cyclist, he said that he needed one of those (horn).

Around here it isnt really frowned on. Cyclists have said that they would like one and peds have said that it gets their attention, so it does work (in the right circumstances).

So does your voice.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Used responsibly and correctly as a warning there's nothing wrong with them.

People can abuse them just the same as some dicks in cars/lorries or whatever else abuse a vehicle's horn. I don't hear people asking for car horns to be abandoned.

GC

 

[400bhp]

You can't shout in a car (well you can but you won't be heard).

 

[swansonj]

I could never find a way to mount mine so that the trigger was at hand while braking. As I tended to prioritise braking over making a noise in an emergency situation, I never used it in the situation where it could be legitimate. I chose never to use it in a non-emergency situation, ie to vent my frustration. Consequently it had usually lost pressure by the time once every few months when I might actually choose to use it. Consequently it is no longer on my bike.

 

[yello]

A club mate has one on his tandem. I'd heard OF them, knew they were loud, but had never actually heard one. So he let me hear it. Keep in mind I was ready, prepared for it rupture my ear drums..... and yet still had a Crackle-like reaction. I went through the metaphorical roof. F*ck me it's loud. If you're unprepared, it'd damned near induce cardiac arrest!

Now I don't know how loud it'd sound from inside a car/van/truck but I can't help but feel it's too loud. If your intention is to frighten the crap out of someone then well and good but I can see that it'd equally anger someone.

 

[I like Skol]

People can abuse them just the same as some dicks in cars/lorries or whatever else abuse a vehicle's horn. I don't hear people asking for car horns to be abandoned.

I can never remember where the horn button is in my vehicles, Is it the big bit in the centre of the steering wheel, or the buttons at the sides of the airbag, or is it actualy on the end of one of the stalks? At MoT time I have to check it is still working as I never use it and this was the same when I was driving 40k/pa in my big green van.

However, I do know which bit flashes the full beam. Sometimes it is the only way to wake up the dozy sod sat dawdling in the outside lane of the otherwise empty motorway and a horn doesn't work well at motorway speeds

 

[Monkreadusuk]

You can't shout in a car (well you can but you won't be heard).

if you cant be heard shouting inside a car, what makes you think they can hear you from the outside?

 

[glenn forger]

With ambient noise it's unlikely any driver with the windows cloased and the radio on will hear a human shout or yell. My Airzound's 120db and has saved my skin a few times. Drivers trying to join a main road I'm on venture out from a junction and peer the opposite direction, they get a toot, no collision.

 

[I like Skol]

if you cant be heard shouting inside a car, what makes you think they can hear you from the outside?

I shouted at a truck driver a few weeks ago as he pulled out onto a roundabout in front of me. I was HARD on the brakes and if I hadn't would have been hit by the drivers side headlight or front wheel. He DEFINITELY heard me shout "WA**ER" because he looked down from his lofty cab with a shocked expression on his face when he realised I was inches from his truck!

No need for an Airzound, helmet cam or any squeaky, girly, high pitched screaming!

 

[glenn forger]

What are the chances of attracting the attention of a yoof in a pimped-up Saxo wiv da tinted windows and urban grimy garage housey music playing full volume with just your voice?

 

[Matthew_T]

I had an odd encounter today for some reason. I was cycling along a quiet road with parked cars on the right. I saw a big Land Rover dropping off a passenger and started moving out without a signal.
I was unsure as to whether or not the woman had seen me so a gave about 5 quick toots of my Zound (not in an aggressive manner) as I went passed, just to let her know I was there.
When I was infront of her, she returned the exact number of beeps. I thought this a bit odd but then concluded with that she was letting me know she had seen me.

When she went to overtake, I was going to let her know that I didnt know if she had seen me. But before I could say anything she screamed "Specky-four-eyes". This was very odd. I caught up with her at a slip road and said "what was that for?", she just ignored me and did some wild gestures in her car (couldnt understand any of them).

I cannot see what I did wrong. I tooted my horn in the manner that a horn should be used: to notify others of your presence. It wasnt aggressive and I didnt say anything to her as I passed. It was a very odd occasion.