History Main / BigHonkingTrafficJam

* ''Series/{{CSINY}}'': In "Summer in the City", Mac Taylor - who should know better - is one of those honking his horn in the middle of stopped traffic blocking the way to a crime scene. He finally says, "Grab your kit, Hawkes. We're walking."

* ''Film/HorseFeathers'' has Pinky (Harpo) taking a lunch break with his horse in the middle of a city street. A crescendo of car horns begins around him, a policeman comes up to write him a ticket, and HilarityEnsues.

* ''Film/Godzilla2014:'' Naturally, once the MUTOs' rampage becomes a public-known national disaster, roads become packed with a [[PostApocalypticTrafficJam Mid-Apocalyptic Traffic Jam]]. Made worse by the fact that the female MUTO emits an EMP sphere of influence that causes electronics to stop working. We’re treated to a shot of a crashed plane with safety slides deployed, sitting on top of a highway overpass, which is absolutely crowded with bumper-to-bumper cars, while the more intrepid drivers whose vehicles still work are cutting across the grass to try and avoid the jam, while car horns echo.

* ''Film/Godzilla2014: Godzilla (2014): Naturally, once the MUTOs' rampage becomes a public-known national disaster, roads become packed with a [[PostApocalypticTrafficJam Mid-Apocalyptic Traffic Jam]]. Made worse by the fact that the female MUTO emits an EMP sphere of influence that causes electronics to stop working. We’re treated to a shot of a crashed plane with safety slides deployed, sitting on top of a highway overpass, which is absolutely crowded with bumper-to-bumper cars, while the more intrepid drivers whose vehicles still work are cutting across the grass to try and avoid the jam, while car horns echo.

* The 1980's MadeForTvMovie "The Great American Traffic Jam", also known as ''[[Film/Gridlock1980 Gridlock]])'' follows a day in the life a group of Los Angeles citizens trapped in a massive traffic jam (massive enough that port-a-potties need to be flown in by the National Guard, to "Music/RideOfTheValkyries"). As expected, every scene of the movie that happens on the highway has a constant background noise of people honking their car horns.

* The 1980's MadeForTvMovie ''Film/TheGreatAmericanTrafficJam'' (also known as ''[[Film/Gridlock1980 Gridlock]])'' follows a day in the life a group of Los Angeles citizens trapped in a massive traffic jam (massive enough that port-a-potties need to be flown in by the National Guard, to "Music/RideOfTheValkyries"). As expected, every scene of the movie that happens on the highway has a constant background noise of people honking their car horns.

Why do cars have horns? In RealLife, to alert other drivers of danger, or to let them know of the car's presence if they're not looking. However, in fiction, the horn's main purpose is to announce that traffic has stopped - a traffic jam in fiction will inevitably resound with the noise of dozens of car horns, being honked as if the drivers expect the car in front of them to just floor it into the back of the next car.

Related to PercussiveTherapy. A driver enveloped in traffic that's crawling along or at a standstill can't get out of there, nor change lanes, nor reverse course, or anything really. His sole recourse is to lay on the horn, as if this signal of impatience will somehow unsnarl the obstacle. On the one hand, drivers can vent their anger and frustration this way, however, it can significantly increase the level of stress in other road users and onlookers. Also, the image of cars crawling silently along isn't very interesting for the audience so adding the honking creates auditory involvement and makes for a less bland scene.

Usually, there is a law against this practice in Real Life and it is illegal for drivers to sound their horn in stationary traffic. (Despite this, frequently TruthInTelevision - which is ''why'' there are specific laws against it.)

* Traffic jams in ''VideoGame/{{Sim|Series}}Copter'' will feature this with traffic jams. Part of this is so the player will [[AntiFrustrationFeatures know how close they are to the traffic jam if they are not looking at the ground]].

Why do cars have horns? In RealLife, to alert other drivers of danger, or to let them know of the car's presence if they're not looking. However, in fiction, the horn's main purpose is to announce that traffic has stopped - a traffic jam in fiction will inevitably resound with the noise of dozens of car horns, seemingly being honked for no reason other than the frustration of the drivers.

* During the first Laguna sequence in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'', you can go back out of the Galbadia Hotel before going up to Julia's room. If you do, you discover that Laguna's carelessly parking his vehicle in the middle of the street has a resulted in a city-wide traffic jam, with sounds of honking playing constantly so long as you remain outside.

* A scene in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' shows Bob stuck in honking traffic on the way home from work.

* In ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'', when DIO forcibly has Senator Phillips drives him around Egypt to hunt for the heroes, upon reaching a traffic jam, DIO orders Phillips to [[CompleteMonster move onto the sidewalk packed with civilians while speeding up]].

Usually, there is a law against this practice in Real Life and it is illegal for drivers to sound their horn in stationary traffic.

* In ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut'', there is a scene of people honking their horns in traffic. Anger then comments that he likes people who do this.

See Also: DeadManHonking and HonkingArrivingCar for more tropes based around car horn sound effects

* Early in ''Film/{{Weekend}}'', {{Villain Protagonist}}s Roland and Corinne hit the road to visit Corinne's terminally ill father, and they get stuck in a traffic jam that goes on for several miles. Several drivers have become so bored with the wait that they have begun playing cards or chess, and there is a constant din of car horns.

* An episode of the 90's ''Franchise/{{Tamagotchi}}'' anime series ''Anime de Hakken!! Tamagotchi'' casts Mametchi in the role of a traffic cop who unwittingly interrupts the drivers he's supposed to directing twice - once during a lunch break, and once when he somehow decides it's a good idea to go to sleep for the night ''while he's still at the intersection'' - with both holdups resulting in a bunch of audible honks from the none-too-pleased Tamagotchis.

* ''Series/{{CSINY}}'': In "Summer in the City," Mac Taylor - who should know better - is one of those honking his horn in the middle of stopped traffic blocking the way to a crime scene. He finally says, "Grab your kit, Hawkes. We're walking."

* Traffic jams in ''VideoGame/SimCopter'' will feature this with traffic jams. Part of this is so the player will [[AntiFrustrationFeatures know how close they are to the traffic jam if they are not looking at the ground]].
* In chapter 2 of ''VideoGame/Deltarune'', to keep the player from wandering around where they don't need to, a traffic jam was made with much honking. You can even here some of the songs from ''VideoGame/Undertale'' if your paying attention.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' episode, "[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlss3E7JewelOfTheAisleSuperZeroes Super Zeroes]]", Blossom takes on the identity of Liberty Belle, inspired by her favorite comic book superhero, Freedom Gal. When she tries to rush to Townsville to save it from a giant monster in the Freedom Mobile, she gets caught in a large traffic jam where every driver is honking their horn. This makes her arrive too late to stop the monster, and [[WhatTheHellHero The Mayor reprimands her for showing up late]].

* An episode of the 90's ''VideoGame/{{Tamagotchi}}'' anime series ''Anime de Hakken!! Tamagotchi'' casts Mametchi in the role of a traffic cop who unwittingly interrupts the drivers he's supposed to directing twice - once during a lunch break, and once when he somehow decides it's a good idea to go to sleep for the night ''while he's still at the intersection'' - with both holdups resulting in a bunch of audible honks from the none-too-pleased Tamagotchis.

* In ''Series/KeepingUpAppearances'', car horns are heard when Hyacinth and Richard are in an immobile traffic jam on their way to the QE2.

* The ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo'' episode "The Day the Earth Didn't Move Around Too Much." has two lanes of traffic at a standstill, honking fervently. Then one driver decides that mindless honking solves nothing, and the standstill would make a fine opportunity for a nap. All other drivers concur until the entire motorcade is dozing quietly. Johnny comes along, sees a mass of cars not moving, nor honking, and interprets this as further proof that time has stopped for everyone but himself.

* Lampshaded in the ''Literature/AbleTeam'' novel "Cairo Countdown", when a Cairo taxi driver notes how everyone's honking at a bus that's broken down, even though there's nothing the bus driver can do about the situation.