Are air horns allowed to be used as the primary horn on a vehicle?

The use of air horns as the primary horn on a vehicle is not permitted primarily because they can create excessive noise and potentially cause safety concerns. Noise regulations are in place to ensure that vehicles remain within acceptable decibel levels for operating safely within communities and roadways. If a vehicle is equipped with an air horn as its main horn, it may exceed these levels, leading to a failure during safety inspection.

In addition, the standard horn on a vehicle is designed to produce a sound that is effective for alerting other drivers and pedestrians without being overly disruptive. Noise ordinances in many jurisdictions aim to prevent disturbances that can be caused by extremely loud horns, further supporting the reason why air horns cannot serve as the primary horn. This ensures a harmonious balance of safety and noise control in road traffic.