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The air horn is a device designed to create an extremely loud noise. It is usually composed of a pressurized air source coupled to a horn through a valve which allows the device to be turned on and off. Air horns have been installed on large semi-trailer trucks, fire trucks, and some ambulances for many years. It is also used on trains as a warning device, and on ships as a signalling device.
Many fire trucks, ambulances, and other large emergency vehicles operate air horns as a means of warning vehicles to clear the right-of-way. These may include traditional truck-style air horns, or stuttertone air horns, which produce an easily recognizable tone. Many US firetrucks have stuttertone air horns installed.
Original diesel locomotives were equipped with truck horns. After an accident in which a driver mistook a train for a truck, the need for a unique train horn became clear [1]. Consequently, North American trains now have at least two horns forming the airhorn, that sound simultaneously,[citation needed] creating a chord. Three and five-tone configurations are the most common, but two-tone configurations also exist [2]. At a grade crossing, the usual sequence is two longs, one short, and one long, except in locations where airhorns are not allowed to sound because of quiet zone ordinances.
In recent years it has become a fad for car and truck enthusiasts to install large air horns on their vehicles.[1] The use of a train horn in an automobile could cause an accident.[citation needed] Some jurisdictions do not even allow an airhorn to be attached, whether or not it can be activated.[citation needed]
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