Ky. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 189
Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.080 (2026)

Horns and other sound devices

✓ current as of May 2026
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Every motor vehicle, when in use on a highway, shall be equipped with a horn or other device capable of making an abrupt sound sufficiently loud to be heard from a distance of at least two hundred (200) feet under all ordinary traffic conditions. Every person operating an automobile or bicycle shall sound the horn or sound device whenever necessary as a warning of the approach of such vehicle to pedestrians or other vehicles, but shall not sound the horn or sound device unnecessarily. A bell may be used on a bicycle. Effective: July 12, 2006 History: Amended 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 173, sec. 7, effective July 12, 2006. -- Amended 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 101, sec. 4. -- Amended 1970 Ky. Acts ch. 93, sec. 9. -- Amended 1952 Ky. Acts ch. 167, sec. 1, effective June 19, 1952. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 2739g-28.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1946–2023 · leading case: Susan Porter v. Kelly Martinez, 68 F.4th 429 (9th Cir. 2023).
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Susan Porter v. Kelly Martinez, 68 F.4th 429 (9th Cir. 2023). “” Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 189.080 . PORTER V.”
City of Louisville v. Chapman, 413 S.W.2d 74 (Ky. Ct. App. 1967). “) KRS 189.080(2) designates required equipment for emergency vehicles.”
Lever Bros. Co. v. Stapleton, 233 S.W.2d 1002 (Ky. Ct. App. 1950). “It could well be inferred or believed that the driver saw the first child run across the road and had he been keeping proper lookout and running at a reasonable and prudent speed under the conditions, he could have avoided striking the second child. The same is true with respect…”
Fayette Cnty. v. Veach, 294 S.W.2d 541 (Ky. Ct. App. 1956). · cites it 2× “Appellant’s duties and privileges in driving an authorized emergency vehicle, such as fire apparatus, are set forth in KRS 189.080(2), 189.320 and 189.390(6), which in substance state that such a vehicle has the right of way and is exempt from speed limitations when answering an…”
Barrett v. Stephany, 510 S.W.2d 524 (Ky. Ct. App. 1974). · cites it 2× “” KRS 189.080, the horn statute, requires a motorist to sound his horn “whenever necessary” as a warning to pedestrians and other drivers.”
Lever Bros. Co. v. Stapleton, 233 S.W.2d 1002 (Ky. Ct. App. 1950). “The same is true with respect to the failure to sound the horn.”
Sellers v. Cayce Mill Supply Co., 349 S.W.2d 677 (Ky. Ct. App. 1961). “Appellant insists that the court should have submitted the case to the jury under a last clear chance instruction, and a warning signal instruction under subsection (1) of KRS 189.080. Since the giving or refusing to give such instructions turns on the particular facts of each…”
Lucas v. Davis, 409 S.W.2d 297 (Ky. Ct. App. 1966). “290(1), which directs all motorists to drive in a careful manner with regard for the safety and convenience of pedes *300 trians and other vehicles on the highway; (4) violation of KRS 189.080(1), which requires the sounding of a horn or other sound device to warn of the…”
Shewmaker v. Richeson ex rel. Richeson, 344 S.W.2d 802 (Ky. Ct. App. 1961). “The other statute is KRS 189.080(1). It requires the motorist to sound his horn “whenever necessary” as a warning of his vehicle’s approach.”
Fayette Cnty. v. Hill, 201 S.W.2d 886 (Ky. Ct. App. 1947). “KRS 189.080 provides that any authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with a siren capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than five hundred feet, but to be used only when the vehicle is operated in response to an emergency call…”
Compton v. Johnson, 522 S.W.2d 448 (Ky. Ct. App. 1975). “A comparable example is presented by KRS 189.080, which in absolute terms requires a motorist to sound his horn as a warning to pedestrians and other drivers “whenever necessary.”
Lundy v. Brown's Adm'x, 205 S.W.2d 498 (Ky. Ct. App. 1947). “” It is argued that KRS 189.080 requires the operator of a motor vehicle to sound his horn only when necessary as a warning of the approach of such vehicle to pedestrians, and that the quoted part of the instruction does not leave to the jury the question of necessity of…”
Show all 20 citing cases →
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.080(1) — 4 cases
Lucas v. Davis, 409 S.W.2d 297 (Ky. Ct. App. 1966). “290(1), which directs all motorists to drive in a careful manner with regard for the safety and convenience of pedes *300 trians and other vehicles on the highway; (4) violation of KRS 189.080(1), which requires the sounding of a horn or other sound device to warn of the…”
Shewmaker v. Richeson ex rel. Richeson, 344 S.W.2d 802 (Ky. Ct. App. 1961). “The other statute is KRS 189.080(1). It requires the motorist to sound his horn “whenever necessary” as a warning of his vehicle’s approach.”
Crowe v. Johnson, 377 F. Supp. 3d 713 (E.D. Ky. 2019).
Benningfield v. Dixon, 482 S.W.2d 760 (Ky. Ct. App. 1972).
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.080(2) — 2 cases
City of Louisville v. Chapman, 413 S.W.2d 74 (Ky. Ct. App. 1967). “) KRS 189.080(2) designates required equipment for emergency vehicles.”
Fayette Cnty. v. Veach, 294 S.W.2d 541 (Ky. Ct. App. 1956). “Appellant’s duties and privileges in driving an authorized emergency vehicle, such as fire apparatus, are set forth in KRS 189.080(2), 189.320 and 189.390(6), which in substance state that such a vehicle has the right of way and is exempt from speed limitations when answering an…”
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