"The habit of blowing your horn in tunnels is based on early traffic safety laws requiring the act," said Merithew, who works in the academy's Traffic Training Center and has 26 years of law enforcement experience.

Honking in the tunnels of Mobile, Alabama—specifically the George C. Wallace and Bankhead Tunnels—is a long-standing local tradition rooted in a mix of acoustics and superstition. Many drivers honk to hear the satisfying, amplified echo of their car horn bouncing off the tiled walls, a practice particularly popular with children. Beyond the noise, some locals follow the tradition of trying to hold their breath for the entire length of the tunnel for good luck, often capping the feat with a triumphant honk at the end. While officially discouraged by law enforcement as it can be distracting or mask emergency sirens, the "tunnel honk" remains a nostalgic rite of passage for many Alabamians traveling across Mobile Bay.