Man In Traffic Jam Does Civic Duty: Honks At Driver In Front Of Him

“I just did what I was supposed to do,” the father of three later recalled.

Jerusalem, June 15 – A driver on his way into Israel’s capital today reacted with civic responsibility upon encountering a lineup of vehicles waiting to proceed along their way, by sounding his horn emphatically at the car immediately in front of his.

Avner Mor, 40, noticed traffic slowing to a crawl as his 2009 Mazda 3 ascended through the hills approaching Jerusalem this morning. Unaware that the major tie-up originated in a brush fire that had closed Highway 1 farther up the road, Mor seized the opportunity to perform the important civic duty the situation demanded, and sounded his car’s horn so that the driver in front of him would be spurred to remedy the situation.

“I just did what I was supposed to do,” the father of three later recalled. “I wasn’t thinking of much beyond what action I was called upon to take in the moment, and I performed that action. I did it again a few times to make sure it was done properly, and at that point, things were out of my hands.” He added that under ideal circumstances the honk would travel or be relayed to the front of the lineup of cars, where the drivers who had stopped or slowed down would thus be roused to stop holding up everyone else and step on the gas already.

Onlookers praised Mor’s coolness in the face of adversity. “I certainly wouldn’t have had the presence of mind to lean on the horn the way he did,” gushed Eti Mordechai, who was driving the Mitsubishi Lancer immediately in front of Mor’s Mazda. “The sound of his horn right behind me jerked me out of whatever thoughts I had been having, which, I must admit, were beginning to look a lot like pessimism and resignation at the situation.”

“It was about as quick as anyone could be expected to react,” said Saleem Awad, whose Volvo truck was stuck next to Mor. “You don’t see that kind of immediate response everyday, but on the road, quick reaction time is something you learn to appreciate.”

Mor, who was trying to get to a meeting at the Har Hotzvim Industrial Zone on the city’s northern outskirts, eventually discovered by listening to the radio that a fire had forced the road’s closure, and that his honking would have limited effect. “That’s not a consideration you’re allowed to think of at the time the situation demands action,” he explained. “I knew there would be plenty of time later to revisit my actions, and I was prepared to deal with whatever fallout. Even knowing what I know now, I don’t regret doing my duty, and I would do it again.”