Australian drivers have been warned about tooting their car horn unless it's for one of the previously approved reasons.
If you've ever beeped the horn as a hello when you see a friend while out driving, or to tell your mate who is taking ages to put their shoes on to hurry up and get in the car, then you might want to listen up.
According to one Australian police force, you could face a fine of up to AUD$2,669 (£1,608) for using your horn incorrectly.
Daily Mail Australia says Victoria Police asked their Facebook followers: "Can you beep your horn to call out someone outside your vehicle?"
The answer was a simple no.
"If you use your horn, or any other warning device, for any other purpose you could receive a AUD$161 (£96) fine," Victoria Police said on social media.
The post received mixed responses, which indicates that the law isn’t necessarily common knowledge.
One man pointed out that his horn allows him to say anything from 'get off the road and use the footpath' to 'get off your phone and go' at a set of traffic lights, as per Seven News.
One woman added that the point of a horn - to 'warn others' is quite broad.
She said, as per Seven News: "The beeping horn might mean 'I’m WARNING you if you’re not out here in 10 seconds I’m leaving'. That’s a warning isn’t it?"
The horn of a car can only be used to warn other motorists of your position on the road, so alert an animal to get out of the way, or as a part of an anti-theft security set-up.
In Australia it varies from state to state.
In NSW, using your horn 'unnecessarily' will get you a AUD$344 (£207) fine. In South Australia, you could be fined AUD$193 (£116). In Western Australia, motorists receive a 'modified penalty' of one penalty unit, which will set you back AUD$50 (£30). Tasmanian drivers may cop a fine of AUD$126 (£75).
It gets a bit more serious up north though.
In the Northern Territory, drivers may face jail of up to six months as a maximum sentence under the Traffic Regulations 2007 act. There's also fines of up to AUD$2,600 (£,1565).
The Sunshine State is next-level about it though.
Fines in Queensland start at AUD$66 (£39) but has a maximum of 20 penalty units, which means drivers could be charged a maximum of AUD$2,669 (£1,608). Yikes.
So definitely not to catch a mate's attention.
Featured Image Credit: Art Directors & TRIP / Alamy. Topmi RF / Alamy.
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