Lately, I’ve noticed a growing trend among Staten Island drivers that I find quite bothersome. It’s people leaning on their horns and disturbing the peace. Needlessly.

Growing up, my extended family on both the maternal and fraternal sides lived in Brooklyn, so I’d spend at least two days a week in Brooklyn for most of my childhood. And, we stayed over many times. So, I know Brooklyn.

Also, I was born there, though my family moved to the island when I was very young.

While Brooklyn communities may be vibrant and incredible ethnic enclaves, double and triple-parked cars have always been the norm…as is holding down the horn until even the birds fly away to seek shelter from the din.

Why all this honking at the slightest provocation? The light turns yellow. The sky is blue.  Traffic light green.  All valid reasons to honk in BK.

So many newcomers to Staten Island obviously hail from Brooklyn.

I can tell from all the honking.

Nothing is happening, yet horns are honking. What gives?

Why have the latest Brooklyn transplants kept their horn-honking habits, while for generations, migrating Brooklynites relocating to Staten Island let off on the horn habit?

I think it’s in the idea of what Staten Island was, and is.

For generations, Staten Island was literally “the country.” Bucolic hills and amazing views; Staten Island had it all. (Really, we still do, though over-development is a thing.)

Not honking every five seconds was a matter of respect.  To the Quiet. To the Peacefulness. To Nature.

Newcomers were quickly informed by neighbors and friends that we just don’t do things the same “out here,” and perhaps some newcomers realized that all that honk honk honking is senseless.

Leaning on the horn is a distinctly “Brooklyn” phenomenon. And, of course, no one wants to bring that Brooklyn chaos…here!  No way!*

*And, while I am sitting here blaming newcomers for all the noise from car horns beeping like crazy without sufficient reason, I think it’s also true that the culprits are some Brooklynite-cum-Islanders  who never learned to stop beeping after even five decades, in some cases.

Perhaps the newcomers these days don’t really know anyone outside of other Brooklynites who have crossed the Narrows, and thus they don’t know it’s not really an SI thing?

Or, perhaps we’re all a lot less friendly to our neighbors these days, and newcomers aren’t truly made to feel welcome, or clued in on the local custom of using the horn only when absolutely required.

The most likely truth: We, the Brooklynites who did it all before, way back when,  started out just as noisy,  just as likely to lean on the horn..just ‘cuz. We didn’t know anything else.

Perhaps slowly, we began realizing that we’re disturbing the quiet.  That’s what I would guess, though I was too young to remember, and I’m not sure that the drivers in my family were ever of a horn-honking bent, in any case.

Keep this in mind, our dear new neighbors!  Welcome to the island; may your families live in peace and enjoy the serenity the island offers, but remember: Only use your horn  when needed. It’s not a way to let off steam.

 

And, all that noise accomplishes nothing.

Hearing horns honking away all day probably raises blood pressure, but I’m not aware of any studies.

On Friday, the Muslims have their holy day. Saturday, the Jews. Sunday, the Christians. Monday, the Buddhists. Tuesday, the Hindus. Thursday must be special for some group. Atheists, maybe?  Remember that almost every day is special to some of your neighbors for important reasons.

So honk away like a madman and remember someone nearby, in our truly multicultural island paradise, may be in the middle of spending time with their  Creator, or trying to be a better person,  when you beep-beep-beep-beep-beeeeeeeeeeeeped in front of their home or space dedicated to that sort of activity.

 

And, really, who wants to come home from work and have to endure a hostile, noisy, and rude commute on any day? Who needs it?

Road rage sometimes begins with the improper use of the horn, which then quickly escalates. Think about that, neighbors.

Really, no one wants to hear a horn blaring like it’s 18th Avenue in 1982. Or, 18th Ave in 2024! Nothing has changed, even after all these years.

Brooklyn is still Brooklyn, thankfully. A unique place with many amazing aspects…and some not-so-amazing aspects.

Bring your recipes, bring your faith, bring your businesses.

But just don’t bring your Brooklyn driving habits.

 

Please? We all came here and adapted.

Why did you choose to move here? It’s the suburban feel. This place is special, a real oasis in the city. It’s N.Y.C., as real as it gets, but it’s also something entirely different.

Don’t disturb the vibe.

And, while you’re back in Brooklyn, doing the old V-Z drive every week to see the family like we once did before most  emigrated out to the Island or Jersey, could you please bring back some of those REAL Brooklyn bagels, you know the ones that are like cooked bread? Hard, you know? And, how about some pizza? Real Brooklyn pizza.  The pizza pies famous for jaw-dropping taste, allegedly because the water is “special.”

Special water? haha

It’s really that special Brooklyn vibe.   It’s the people. It’s the heart.

 

While we’re at it, how about some proper BK knishes? Would twelve be too many? How about cannoli? Can you handle a few boxes? Ten or so?

Wait. My auntie just stopped in. Can you add another ten to that order? Ten cannoli? No! Ten knishes, thirty more cannoli.

Oh! And, that amazing Asian market. The produce is amazing. Would twenty bok choi bunches be too many?

Just kidding, neighbor!

Maybe I’ll just take a ride back to Brooklyn myself.

I can deal with the blaring horns and quadruple-parked cars, even.

The knishes and cannoli make the trip more than worth a little horn-honking-induced stress.

Banner Image: Road Rage. Photo Illustration by Staten Islander Staff