MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA — Google has taught its self-driving cars how to honk in the most polite way. <br /> <br />The self-driving cars were taught how to distinguish the difference between false alarms, such as a person making a three-point turn, and dangerous situations like someone driving down the wrong side of the road. <br /> <br />During the initial test phase, the honks were heard only inside the car. The test driver would note whether the honk was made appropriately. <br /> <br />Google announced in its monthly report that the test results helped to improve its honking algorithms, promoting them to broadcast the honks to people outside the vehicle. <br /> <br />For example, the Google vehicle would make two short beeps to remind another car that is slowly reversing towards it about its presence. <br /> <br />It would make a long and loud beep in urgent situations such as a distracted pedestrian or an oncoming vehicle. <br /> <br />The silent vehicle can also mimic the sound characteristics of traditional cars to help alert pedestrians and the visually impaired to the car’s presence. <br /> <br />Google is testing 24 Lexus RX450h SUVs and 34 prototype cars, which are driving an average of 10,000 to 15,000 miles per week. <br /> <br />Google self-driving cars have been involved in only one crash that was their fault. That happened on Valentine’s Day this year, when a Google car hit a bus in Silicon Valley.
