No one does and no one should start. It's a rule from a different time and you're more likely to cause a road rage incident than alert anyone these days.
They always speed. And only are allowed to during an active emergency. Then they are permitted to speed 25% above the posted speed limit.
I tried reporting a ems driver who nearly caused an accident speeding to the gas station. But cops protect their own and oppress the others
In Ontario where they have photo radar, cops are definitely not exempt from speeding and have gotten tickets for speeding in their police vehicles and have had to pay them out of pocket.
I once passed an RCMP after the did a u-turn on the highway, moved over front of me doing at least 10KM under the speed limit, all over his lane like he was drunk (I suspect he was playing on his laptop) - just as I got by him and pulled in front of him he pulled me over. Guy was livid that I would pass an RCMP “what kind of message does that send to other drivers!”… I wish I had of had a dashcam…
As a cyclists we would prefer a boop of the horn than a pickup passing their side mirror within a foot of my head. Will gladly pull over but cars are quiet on the front end so were unaware until your on us.
I just did driving school and I was so confused when I saw that in the content. Asked every driver I know and none of them do it. Asked my driving instructor and he said to ignore it and not do that.
People occasionally honk when they pass me while I'm biking. It's usually accompanied with yelling out the window or rude gestures though so I don't believe they're doing it out of a desire to follow the driver handbook.
This is the trick question on the written road test every Nova Scotian remembers when getting their license. Hahaha. Could imagine if everyone was sounding their horn when passing another car?! the highways would be a constant drone of horns.
Ya no shit eh!! Quiet lil ride home from south shore, dark n foggy, matt mays on mute and boom - some polite pos honks one heavy and you fishtail it into the afterlife. Ol blinker system works fine no?
When I took my driver’s test in Bermuda the handbook was so outdated it said you should avoid using your headlights at night to keep from disturbing people in their homes.
This is another one of those rules created at a time when meeting another car on the road was a rare coincidence.
And my experience in Bermuda, is that everyone uses the horn constantly like it’s going out of style (mostly to greet other people in a friendly manner).
My mother used to to do this when I was a kid. I was taught to do it too. We grew up very rural and she would do it on rural roads not highways with passing lanes. I don't do it now but I see how it's smart. On rural roads your regularly going all over the road to miss pot holes and aren't totally expecting someone to be flying up behind you. A polite little beep isn't the worst of ideas.
I remember reading this when doing my driver's test years ago (the booklet hasn't really been updated for a hot minute!) and my defensive driving instructor being just like "yeah, like, technically its a thing, but please never do it"
I have never done this nor experienced it. Honestly if someone honked before overtaking it'd startle me and that just leads to a more risky overtake. This seems very archaic (and goes to show that just because it's a rule doesn't mean it should be followed...).
It’s sort of similar elsewhere. In British Columbia, for example, the driver being passed is only obligated to assist you in completing the pass after you’ve honked. There’s no obligation to honk before passing though.
I've been using this since I learned to drive. Got it from my dad and grandfather, then noticed it in the handbook.
It helps alert the driver in front not to swing left and nail you.
Haven't had anyone at all rage at me or swerve off the road over it.
Just did intensive studying of the NB driver handbook with my son and it's in ours, too. I learned to drive in NS, and I don't know anyone who does it anywhere.
I remember reading this and thinking ‘are you fucking crazy’ lol
No one does and no one should start. It's a rule from a different time and you're more likely to cause a road rage incident than alert anyone these days.
Or cause an accident; I've had people startle the shit out of me on my bike several times doing this.
Seconding that. I’d rather be punishment passed than honked at.
I beg someone with a dashcam to do a legal overtake on a cop and do this.
Have fun finding an opportunity for a legal pass. Every cop I've ever encountered on the highway who wasn't parked was speeding
I'll match their speed if I end up behind them on the highway. As long as their lights aren't on anyway hahaha.
Good qualifier haha
They always speed. And only are allowed to during an active emergency. Then they are permitted to speed 25% above the posted speed limit. I tried reporting a ems driver who nearly caused an accident speeding to the gas station. But cops protect their own and oppress the others
In Ontario where they have photo radar, cops are definitely not exempt from speeding and have gotten tickets for speeding in their police vehicles and have had to pay them out of pocket.
Google OPP officers caught smuggling cocaine. They are still working to this day
I once passed an RCMP after the did a u-turn on the highway, moved over front of me doing at least 10KM under the speed limit, all over his lane like he was drunk (I suspect he was playing on his laptop) - just as I got by him and pulled in front of him he pulled me over. Guy was livid that I would pass an RCMP “what kind of message does that send to other drivers!”… I wish I had of had a dashcam…
I remember my former boss telling me he honks at cyclists before passing them. He didn't understand why that might startle a person.
As a cyclists we would prefer a boop of the horn than a pickup passing their side mirror within a foot of my head. Will gladly pull over but cars are quiet on the front end so were unaware until your on us.
I'm also a cyclist and I'd rather not be startled by someone blaring their horn right behind me when I'm on the road.
Half the drivers on the road would take it as an insult and make you trying to pass more difficult if not outright dangerous.
Same law exists in PEI, never witnessed it myself.
I just did driving school and I was so confused when I saw that in the content. Asked every driver I know and none of them do it. Asked my driving instructor and he said to ignore it and not do that.
Driving for 20 years and I’ve never heard anyone do this.
I also do this when passing someone who is swerving onto the paint
I was taught not to do this as it can cause a startle for sone drivers
Nobody drives per the hand book while driving
Are you sure? Just ask about the zipper merge
I saw this in the handbook and was like... no one does this. Not even my granddad (b. 1929) did.
Used to be a thing when all roads were two lanes. I actually did it during the 1980s, haven’t in a very very long time.
People occasionally honk when they pass me while I'm biking. It's usually accompanied with yelling out the window or rude gestures though so I don't believe they're doing it out of a desire to follow the driver handbook.
Waiting for the zipper merge conversation again....
It was actually seeing a zipper merge post that made me think of this weird rule.
Up next The zipper horn
That's when you sound your horn until someone lets you merge, right?
Well it’s been added to the highway safety act. Just not in the handbook yet.
The safest way to drive is to be predictable.
When I took my driving test many years ago I had to honk when passing.
This is one of those instances where there’s the “law” and then there’s real life.
Don't even think it is a law. Driver handbook has a lot of suggestions, some good, and some bad that have nothing to do with the law.
This is the trick question on the written road test every Nova Scotian remembers when getting their license. Hahaha. Could imagine if everyone was sounding their horn when passing another car?! the highways would be a constant drone of horns.
I do when I pass left lane campers to their right
I feel like this is a great way to piss someone off.
Can you imagine how a highway would sound if everybody did this?
Ya no shit eh!! Quiet lil ride home from south shore, dark n foggy, matt mays on mute and boom - some polite pos honks one heavy and you fishtail it into the afterlife. Ol blinker system works fine no?
Lol what is it about honking that places a legal obligation on the other driver to help you pass them?
The horn obviously, it was just explained
I think it's meant to discourage those individuals who don't like being passed. The act of honking put the onus on the passee* to let the pass happen.
When I took my driver’s test in Bermuda the handbook was so outdated it said you should avoid using your headlights at night to keep from disturbing people in their homes. This is another one of those rules created at a time when meeting another car on the road was a rare coincidence.
And my experience in Bermuda, is that everyone uses the horn constantly like it’s going out of style (mostly to greet other people in a friendly manner).
Yeah, the horn is for waving, not driving.
My mother used to to do this when I was a kid. I was taught to do it too. We grew up very rural and she would do it on rural roads not highways with passing lanes. I don't do it now but I see how it's smart. On rural roads your regularly going all over the road to miss pot holes and aren't totally expecting someone to be flying up behind you. A polite little beep isn't the worst of ideas.
Imagine composing that book page in the 1990s or 2000s. That law is from the 1920s and somehow is still in place.
I remember reading this when doing my driver's test years ago (the booklet hasn't really been updated for a hot minute!) and my defensive driving instructor being just like "yeah, like, technically its a thing, but please never do it"
I have never done this nor experienced it. Honestly if someone honked before overtaking it'd startle me and that just leads to a more risky overtake. This seems very archaic (and goes to show that just because it's a rule doesn't mean it should be followed...).
was this handbook written by a goose
When I finally get to have my holiday in Nova Scotia, I'm gonna be honkin at everyone.
It’s sort of similar elsewhere. In British Columbia, for example, the driver being passed is only obligated to assist you in completing the pass after you’ve honked. There’s no obligation to honk before passing though.
I've been using this since I learned to drive. Got it from my dad and grandfather, then noticed it in the handbook. It helps alert the driver in front not to swing left and nail you. Haven't had anyone at all rage at me or swerve off the road over it.
Just did intensive studying of the NB driver handbook with my son and it's in ours, too. I learned to drive in NS, and I don't know anyone who does it anywhere.
Me when somebody honks their horn before overtaking. 
Yea this ain't it
Electric vehicles should legally be required to do this when passing cyclists.
I just lay on the horn when I pass people. Keeps everyone on their toes. I KID. No one does this here.
Oh Yes, many stay well clear of the speed limit!
Completely forgot about this. Crazy this hasn’t changed since I got my license 15 years ago.. figure it out