In India, it's quite popular to see humorous poetry and slogans on the backs of trucks. One of the most well-known phrases is "Horn OK Please," which appears on many trucks. This line is so iconic that it inspired a Bollywood film a few years ago. While there’s no requirement to write this and it doesn't have any official meaning, it’s still a common sight. Many may not know the reason behind it, so today we’ll explain why "Horn OK Please" is written on the back of trucks.
The Exact Meaning Of It:
"Horn OK Please" means that truck drivers want vehicles behind them to honk before they overtake. In the past, many trucks didn’t have side mirrors, so drivers wrote this message to let those behind know they should honk to signal they were passing. In the past, many roads were narrow, making overtaking risky. Vehicles behind larger trucks often couldn’t see them well. To help, truck drivers would light a bulb above the words "OK" to signal to the vehicle behind that it was safe to pass. This made it easier for them to overtake.
The reason for writing OK :
There are several reasons for the "OK" in the phrase. One notable reason dates back to World War II when there was a global diesel shortage. Trucks were often filled with kerosene, which is highly flammable. To warn vehicles behind them to keep a safe distance, drivers would write "On Kerosene." Over time, this phrase was shortened to just "OK."
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