TLC to taxi drivers: Stop honking so much

The Taxi and Limousine Commission is reminding all licensed drivers that they risk a $350 fine if they hit their horns for any reason other than “imminent danger.”

Messages to this effect began pulsing — silently — through taxi Driver Information Monitors yesterday.

“Horn honking is a form of pollution, and it is simply unacceptable for our professional licensees to abuse their ability to create it,” said TLC Commissioner David Yassky.

The TLC is also encouraging passengers to let taxi drivers know that unnecessary honking is unappreciated and to call 311 to report violations.

Taxi drivers may indeed be in a hurry, Yassky conceded, but “horn abuse isn’t the way to accomplish that goal.”

The TLC recently announced that the new Nissan NV 200 taxi cabs now on order will feature a “low annoyance horn.”