A petition addresses horn honking associated with remote keyless entry (RKE) systems and related technology. Some people are completely unaware of this noise. Other people experience interrupted sleep, health effects, and reduced quality of life because of intrusive RKE noise. Weren't vehicle immobilizers and less sensitive car alarm motion detectors supposed to reduce noise pollution? How did it come to this?

Originally, car alarms featured a "chirp" to signify that they were armed or disarmed. When RKE systems became standard, they enabled owners to lock and unlock car doors remotely, arming or disarming the alarm at the same time. But inexplicably, factory-installed RKE systems began to feature horn honking as an audible security indicator.

The quieter chirp and silent indicators such as flashing lights served the same purpose, and noise ordinances and universal motor vehicle safety codes prohibit non-emergency horn use. But RKE horn honking slipped in under the radar because it is easily perceived as part of traffic noise. Newer factory-installed systems are less reactive, with alarms that mainly sound when one forgets to disarm security. But as noise from "false alarms" has decreased, RKE horn honking has filled the void with short horn blasts as people lock, unlock, arm, and disarm their cars. And now these technologies feature a horn honk as a signifier:

Other vehicle noise that has emerged in recent years includes sound added to electric and hybrid cars because sight-impaired persons cannot hear quiet vehicles approaching, and "backup beeping" to "warn" that a car is backing up (now there are cameras that serve the same purpose). This grassroots effort does not fully address the addition of sounds to quiet electric and hybrid cars to comply with the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010, but opposes adding horn honking and other incongruent sounds to quiet vehicles.

This campaign also does not address backup beeping. We are focusing on technology that uses horn honking, which unquestionably violates noise ordinances and safety codes, and which clearly causes a physiological fight-or-flight response in humans and animals. However, many of us are strongly opposed to the use of backup beeping in non-industrial vehicles. A camera can accomplish the task more effectively without adding noise to the environment.

Noise from new vehicle technology already affects the health of people who are exposed to it, and if it is not phased out, more people stand to be affected in the future. There have always been quieter, cleaner, greener ways to "signify" that a car is locked, unlocked, armed, disarmed, warmed up, or located at "point X" in a parking lot. RKE horn honking is more than an annoyance, it is a public health issue, a quality of life issue, an environmental issue, and in some instances, a social justice issue. People whose buildings face a street or parking lot are captive audiences to the noise of this technology, which can reach great distances.

Some people argue that horn honking is a part of urban life that people just have to accept, but that couldn't be further from the truth. RKE horn honking is not limited to cities; it is a big part of suburban and rural soundscapes, parks, and beaches; its presence in peaceful retirement communities has spurred some homeowner associations to prohibit its use. In cities, RKE horn honking is an unnecessary addition to ambient noise, and its elimination could reduce ambient noise in densely populated residential communities.

If the auto industry is serious about its green environmental goals, since quieter and silent security status indicators have always existed, the industry should eliminate horn honking as an indicator from all of its remote vehicle technology. Doing so will bring the industry into compliance with noise and safety codes worldwide, and will prove that the industry is concerned about the health and quality of life of all who live in communities and share space with their products.

Academic Noise Literature

The Effect of Transportation Noise on Health and Cognitive Development: A Review of Recent Evidence   (Bluhm, Clark, and Stansfield, 2007) (Full text)

Transportation noise and cardiovascular risk: Updated review and synthesis of epidemiological studies indicate that the evidence has increased   (Babisch, 2006) (Full text)

Road traffic noise and annoyance: an increasing environmental health problem   (Bluhm, Nordling, and Berglind, 2004) (Full text)

The Association between Noise Exposure and Blood Pressure and Ischemic Heart Disease: a meta-analysis   (van Kempen, et al, 2002) (Full text)

Ambient neighbourhood noise and children's mental health   (Lercher, et al, 2002) (Full text)

Traffic noise and cardiovascular disease   (Babisch, 2000) (Full text)

Noise Exposure and Public Health   (Passchier-Vermeer and Passchier, 2000) (Full text)

Intrusive Community Noises Yield More Complaints     (Bronzaft, et al, 2000) (Full text)

It Takes a "Silent Village" to Harm a Child   (Bronzaft, 1999) (Full text)

Beware: Noise Is Hazardous to Our Children’s Development   (Bronzaft, 1997) (Full text)

Noise and stress: a comprehensive approach   (Westman and and Walters, 1981) (Full text)

Backup Beeping Research

Vehicle Motion Alarms: Necessity, Noise Pollution, or both?   (Holzman, 2011) (Full text)

Children's response to a commercial back-up warning device   (Sapien, et al, 2003) (Full text)

Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Added Noise

NoiseOFF summary of electric vehicle added noise   (Article)

Anti-Noise Activists Oppose Sounds for Electric Cars   (New York Times, 2010) (Article)

Blind Advocates ‘Disappointed’ in Nissan E.V. Sounds   (New York Times, 2010) (Article)

Hybrid Cars May Include Fake Vroom for Safety   (New York Times, 2009) (Article)

Auto Industry Research

Alternator Whining Noise - A Sound Quality Concern in Passenger Car   (Abstract)

Development of Nissan Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians   (Abstract)

An Initial Study to Develop Appropriate Warning Sound for a Luxury Vehicle Using an Exterior Sound Simulator   (Abstract)

SAE 2011 Noise and Vibration Conference and Exhibition   (Abstracts)

Online Forums, Columns, and Videos

The Chevy Cruze app enables "relocking" and honking from miles away   (YouTube video)

Virginia residents opposed the technology in 2009   (Article)

Car alarms and beeps: What boards and owners can do about the noise   (Article)

ParaPundit discussion on remote keyless entry honking   (Forum)

Cars Honking When Locked with the Remote | My Biggest Complaint   (Forum)

PLEASE HELP get rid of the LOUD HONK when i use my remote!!   (Honda forum)