Does anyone know when car horns became mandatory on vehicles? There had been a lot of legislation in each state between the 50s-70s.
Probably a moot point...I think horns became essentially universal on cars long before anyone thought to regulate them.
There isn't a law requiring them to be mandatory is my point. I see a lot of customs around that gave custom steering wheels but no horn. Just curious because I see it all the time
My 2 big horns don't work on my 56 buick wagon so I installed 2 LOUD ones right under them so you cant see them and don't know the old ones aren't working .Bruce.
I think a horn has been required since the '40s, but how it's actuated is another story. Early cars had ****ons on the column or dash, the steering-wheel 'horn ring' switch came later. My avatar uses the original dash-mount 'start' ****on for the horn.
I don't know about CA, but in NY we must go thru mandatory automobile inspections every year. If your vehicle doesn't have a horn, you do not p*** inspection and can not drive the vehicle. Are you saying that horns are not mandatory in CA?
Read the first paragraph of this. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=veh&group=26001-27000&file=27000-27007 It doesn't show any year model exception. A working horn is too damned inexpensive and easy to hook up to piss and whine about having to have one or ask the question anyhow.
I'm in NY as well. I would think all states would require vehicles to p*** at least a basic safety inspection.
The point is if it was not standard or was an option then the state cannot require it to be in a vehicle. For example Hazards weren't mandator until 1966. Seat belts 1968. VINs weren't introduced until 1981. Emissions until the mid 70s.
I'm just merely preparing myself for a round of stupid questions from the nose picking kid doing the inspections
I have a horn on the dash and it's not very loud. Since no requirement then a horn is a horn. According to the state thing someone posted it states if you don't have one you can't operate it on a highway
Do not count on it, states can pretty much tack on any requirement they please. For example: starting in 1961 California required positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) systems to be equipped on all new motor vehicles sold in the state and in 1963 broadened the rule by requiring all cars newer than 1950 to be retrofitted with a PCV system. And for what it is worth CA Vehicle Code Section 27000-a describes the horn requirement, note there is no mention regarding year: 27000. (a) A motor vehicle, when operated upon a highway, shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet, but no horn shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound. An authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with, and use in conjunction with the siren on that vehicle, an air horn that emits sounds that do not comply with the requirements of this section. (My apologies to Mr48chev for repeating what he already stated.)
around here the nose picker is a state trooper.our inspections are a little different, mostly looking for stolen cars or parts.
why would you not want a working loud horn? after brakes, a horn is the best defense to wake the a-hole up from his phone call.
I think the legislation probable goes back at least as far as the br*** era, had to warn the horses don't you know. At one time it was law in England that someone had to walk ahead of the car with a red flag!
That is why they have inspections. If it is too much bother to put a working horn on your car, what else did you neglect to do? Just saying what the inspector is thinking.
I use the same ****on with the stock Lincoln trumpets, loud as the Queen Mary! We don't have any inspections here in Bama.
I completely agree with this. But after driving down here for about a year a loud horn is as effective as one that works half as good. These people just give you the bird and keep driving like jack***es on or off their cell. The cell phone laws don't apply to them.
If anything, I would put on a horn that was so loud and obnoxious that they complained about the noise.
California does not have vehicle safety inspection. If a cop never pulls you over and checks, nobody will ever know. If you are going for a VIN check at CHP, they will probably look, but that's about it.
cool little speedster, I would think a horn from a twenties or thirties large car or truck would be about right for that car.
That's what I have been thinking, what horn to use? I have a '30 tudor no hood or fenders and no good place to mount one. Can we see some horns that you all run?
As I recall almost every , Model "A" I've had came with a horn attached to the headlight bar and there were a lot of them. I've had a dozen in the last 60 years, and every complete car had one. I can also remember many teen and early 20's cars had squeeze bulb air horns. I think they have been a part of automotive history from day one in some form or another. .......................... Jack
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