I commute everyday 30 km to reach my workplace and back to residence. I am forced to use horn many times while driving because of other drivers / pedestrians / pushcarts crossing the lane / parking the vehicles encroaching the road, taking shortcuts to cross the road instead of using road islands, sudden change in the direction, slowing the vehicle suddenly, talking on the mobile while driving across the road, coming in wrong direction, and so on. This will happen in either direction of travel. This horn sound is an irritation and disturbance to me apart from increasing stress levels.
Last few weeks, I observed that by using flashlight (dipper) to caution those coming in opposite direction and crossing the road, atleast I can avoid use of horn and thus the irritation. Though, I have to use horn to caution those driving in front of me. If the driver is not alert with his erroneous way of driving, I have to change my lane after watching the vehicular movement behind through rear view mirror.
I feel from my experience that the use of flashlight helps in reducing noise on levels on the road and this this facility should be made compulsory for all vehicles by concerned authorities.