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Dear Gavin,
My pet peeve concerns Muni LRVs and their drivers, especially those on the N-Judah line, which is where I live. The problem is twofold. (1) The horns with which these cars are equipped are way too loud (and thus illegal), and (2) A number of Muni operators routinely use their horns inappropriately.
First, the Muni cars appear to be equipped with air horns. Air horns are illegal in California, as they should be, along with any horn that emits an "unreasonably loud or harsh sound." (See California Vehicle Code Section 27000: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27000.htm) The Muni LRV horns must be disabled or replaced, as soon as possible.
Second, Muni operators routinely blast their horns at other vehicles for reasons that have nothing to do with safety. And note that the ONLY appropriate use of a horn is for safety, i.e., to prevent an accident (See California Vehicle Code Section 27001: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27001.htm). I realize that most horn use in everyday traffic is for other reasons, such as to vent frustration, punish other drivers, etc. But Muni drivers are paid and paid well, and there is no excuse for them to be laying on the horn while throwing trantrums. If they lack the emotional maturity required to behave like professional drivers - and believe me, many do - then they should be dismissed or reassiged to some other duty.
If the problem was only (1) or (2), it might not be so bad. But the combination of the two problems has made living on the N-Judah line intolerable. Even with all of my doors and windows closed, and in the part of my house that’s furthest from the street, the N-Judah horn makes me jump several inches off my seat whenever I hear it. Do not think it is a matter of getting used to it. It isn’t. I have lived here for 21 years, and the problem is only getting worse. I would move away if only I could afford to do so.
Name Withheld
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