Delaware: Is it legal to put a train horn on a car?
Delaware has no train horn ban, but drivers may not use a horn to make an unreasonably loud or harsh sound.
Delaware requires a working horn audible from 200 feet. It bans sirens and exhaust, compression, or spark plug whistles, but sets no loudness limit on the horn itself. Instead, drivers may sound a horn only as a safety warning and may not use it to make an unreasonably loud or harsh sound. A train horn, built to sound like a locomotive, is likely to break that rule whenever it is sounded on the road.
Conditions
- Horn must be audible from 200 feet
- Horn may be used only when reasonably necessary for safe operation
- No horn use to make unreasonably loud or harsh sound, or while stationary
- No sirens or exhaust, compression, or spark plug whistles
What the law says
The driver of a vehicle shall, when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation, give audible warning with the horn but shall not otherwise use the horn for any other purpose. No driver of any vehicle shall use a horn: (1) To make unreasonably loud or harsh sound;
Sources
- 21 Del. C. § 4306 Official · delcode.delaware.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Delaware State Police
- Phone
- 302-739-5901
- Website
- dsp.delaware.gov
How bordering states compare
- Maryland Allowed with limitsMaryland bans horns that make an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle, which a typical train horn likely fails.
- New Jersey Allowed with limitsNew Jersey bars any horn from making an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle, which a train horn likely breaks.
- Pennsylvania Allowed with limitsPennsylvania bans whistles, whistle-like devices and any unreasonably loud or harsh sound device on vehicles driven on highways.