There are a few different Annoying Beep sounds that vehicles use when reversing, ranging from pulses of white noise (good for spatial localisation) to spoken warnings. However, one of the commonest is a repeated trio of notes that run up and down (123, 321..123,321..).

This is fairly annoying in itself, but it could be made more so by adding a small variation that occurs randomly but, on average, about once every 500 repetitions. For instance, a fourth note: 123, 321..123, 321.. 1234, 321.. 123, 321).
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jul 31 2019

If that pattern is "one of the commonest", I must not get out much, because I've never heard it; only a simple "beeeep".
"Every 500 repetitions" is over 8 minutes (assuming 1 beep- per-second); so it will almost never be heard.
-- neutrinos_shadow, Aug 01 2019


It would be slightly scary if it stuck to the regular beeping but replaced about 1 in 1,000 beeps with a recording of a voice whispering "I hope you die!"
-- hippo, Aug 01 2019


I can't bun any automotive noises. We're at peak beep, it's spilled over into bings, bongs and all sorts. I'm for abolishing two old beeps for every new one until the situation is under control.

My car bongs when you turn it on, why? The whole dashboard lights up, is the bong for blind drivers? It beeps when someone is in my blindspot, it beeps in reverse, if a heavy bag is on the passenger seat, if the door is open, if the key is too far away. Worst of all, in 4-5 specific locations around the city I get 3 mystery beeps, noone can tell me what these mean, it still happens with the fuse for the Nav/Entertainment system pulled.
-- bs0u0155, Aug 07 2019


// in 4-5 specific locations around the city I get 3 mystery beeps, noone can tell me what these mean// Ah, that would be System Q in operation. But you should really only be getting 2 beeps unless it sees you as a threat.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Aug 07 2019


//System Q//

grumble grumble. Put me down for one of 8ths entirely mechanical machines. At least I'll be able to use an old rag on the bell.
-- bs0u0155, Aug 07 2019


Few people know that the Cube is in fact made primarily of brass, and is coal-powered.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Aug 07 2019


I thought it was still running on whale oil and the cat wheel.
-- Voice, Aug 08 2019


I thought it was grounded because they couldn't get a replacement 5/7" nozzle for the toilet overflow.
-- pocmloc, Aug 08 2019


I think they managed to jam on a 15/21sts one with a bit of plumbers' tape.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Aug 08 2019


// made primarily of brass, and is coal-powered. //

That's just the antique one we take out to County Shows and Steam Rallies in the summer. We have a fine collection of rosettes.
-- 8th of 7, Aug 08 2019



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