SIGforum
People Driving Around With Hazard Lights On?
June 10, 2023, 05:42 AM
bdylanPeople Driving Around With Hazard Lights On?
In my area, it seems to mean the person has decided they are going to speed and ignore traffic laws. I'm guessing the flashing lights are supposed to alert other drivers that they have gone rogue.
June 10, 2023, 05:44 AM
egregoreAt least with hazard lights you can
see the car. It bothers me a lot more when people have no lights
at all at dawn, dusk (sometimes even well after dark), inclement weather or overcast.
June 10, 2023, 06:11 AM
BassamaticI haven't seen that in these parts and there are a lot of cars, from everywhere, around the lake this time of year.
.....never marry a woman who is mean to your waitress. June 10, 2023, 07:33 AM
bobtheelfquote:
Originally posted by pedropcola:
In torrential downpours where visibility is highly reduced I absolutely turn on my headlights and hazards on the freeway until you get to better vis conditions. Seems like common sense and even the law recognizes that.
Headlights yes, hazards no.
It doesn't help anyone see you better. It makes things worse. Never drive with your hazards on.
June 10, 2023, 09:30 AM
V-TailHow about people who drive for miles and miles with a turn signal on?
הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים June 10, 2023, 10:04 AM
nhracecraftquote:
Originally posted by bobtheelf:
quote:
Originally posted by pedropcola:
In torrential downpours where visibility is highly reduced I absolutely turn on my headlights and hazards on the freeway until you get to better vis conditions. Seems like common sense and even the law recognizes that.
Headlights yes, hazards no.
It doesn't help anyone see you better. It makes things worse.
Never drive with your hazards on.
Uhhh, it is THE LAW to do so under certain circumstances in many states!
I'm baffled as to how you could conclude it doesn't help anyone see you better, or could actually make things worse! Not all vehicles come equipped with rear fog lights, and/or front fogs/position lights. There are a numerous conditions where visibility could be extremely poor (fog, near whiteout snow conditions, significant road spray on the highway) where it would be unsafe to stop, OR drive anywhere near the speed limit! There are 50 sets of laws re: vehicle lighting/hazards use when driving (or not driving) in this country. Some states permit use, some exclude/prohibit use, and in many states use is required by law based on certain conditions.
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Trump 47....Make America Great Again!
"May Almighty God bless the United States of America" - parabellum 7/26/20
Live Free or Die!
June 10, 2023, 11:20 AM
konata88Just curious - why does use of hazard lights need to be so complicated and confusing? Why so many different laws? Isn't there just some common sense rule of thumb that can be applied?
If the vehicle is not being driven in a manner that one might normally expect on that road at that time, that's probably a hazardous condition assuming that the unexpected contributes to many accidents. Is it much more complicated than this?
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy
"A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book June 10, 2023, 11:23 AM
pedropcolaYou guys are wrong on this. I don’t even understand the logic you think you are using. In a heavy downpour the forward visibility can get down to being measured in feet. Not hundreds of feet, just feet. Turning on your hazards on the freeway where visibility has gone from normal to basically approaching a car length or two absolutely increases your visibility to other cars. It is idiotic to say otherwise. Even at night it is beneficial in a torrential downpour. Saying it ruins other drivers ability to see means nothing where the rain has already reduced vis to nearly nothing.
Not only is it smart, it is absolutely legal. I know people say it is illegal in Texas but I would love to see that actual statute.
When visibility is poor to nonexistent, additional lighting is a good thing.
Don’t conflate slow drivers on clear days using hazards with using them in highly reduced vis conditions.
June 10, 2023, 11:38 AM
12131I'm with Pete on this. I torrential downpours, slow down, headlights and hazard lights on. What ticks me off are these assholes who continue to speed recklessly under these conditions. Legal or not, I have yet to see folks being pulled over by cops for driving with hazard lights on under these conditions.
Q
June 10, 2023, 11:45 AM
PASigNo, I really wasn’t referring to legitimate situations where you may want to put them on to allow people to see you such as a torrential downpour. Also, whenever I pull off to the side of the road, I pull off as far as possible, and I always put my hazards on, because the drivers here in PA are nuts and will run your ass over on a shoulder in a heartbeat.
I was really referring to the people driving like 10 or 20 miles under the speed limit with the flashers on and seemingly clear conditions, just appearing to be terrified of being on the road.
June 10, 2023, 12:37 PM
nhracecraftWith all the modern technology in cars now and computer control of EVERYTHING (ECUs, TCUs, Fly-by-Wire Throttle Bodies, and the multitude of sensors than can fail), 'Limp-Mode' happens. There's also vibration issues resulting from tire, wheel, or other driveline issues where it may not be obvious what's causing the vehicle to travel below what would be considered the 'minimum speed'. In such conditions, it could be unwise, or 'terrifying' to drive the vehicle any faster than they are. Further, with all the crazy/inattentive drivers on the road, people may feel it's unsafe to stop and/or may just be trying to get somewhere safe to stop. Who the hell knows, but there are probably, more often than not, legitimate reasons to be operating a vehicle with the hazards on. It's always better if you can get OFF of the road, rather than stopping ON the road...Just Sayin'
____________________________________________________________
If Some is Good, and More is Better.....then Too Much, is Just Enough !!
Trump 47....Make America Great Again!
"May Almighty God bless the United States of America" - parabellum 7/26/20
Live Free or Die!
June 10, 2023, 12:39 PM
TMats“Oh oh, there’s a hazard,” is what I invariably say to my wife when we encounter a vehicle driving with flashers on. I wouldn’t even
think of putting them on when moving myself.
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despite them
June 10, 2023, 12:55 PM
P250UA5quote:
Originally posted by TMats:
“Oh oh, there’s a hazard,” is what I invariably say to my wife when we encounter a vehicle driving with flashers on. I wouldn’t even think of putting them on when moving myself.
Forcefield is what we call it, as they're typically still proceeding at the posted limit in horrendous conditions
The Enemy's gate is down. June 10, 2023, 05:55 PM
Mr. Peteronimanin the torrential downpours that y'all keep bringing up, I'm all for the hazard lights on, if you have pulled over on the side of the road, not if your still driving the speed limit
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For after all, he was only human. He wasn't a dog.”
― Charles M. Schulz
June 10, 2023, 06:30 PM
jer830Back in April I was driving north on the 15 around noon on the way to Vegas. From Barstow to Baker I encountered the worst wind/sandstorm I’ve ever been in. Kind of reminded me of that Bond movie. Worse than any Tule Fog I’ve driven in up in the Central Valley. I always drive with my headlights on, but in this case, like almost everyone else that day, the hazard lights came on.
June 10, 2023, 06:42 PM
konata88When one has hazards on, does one typically turn them off to use turn signals when wanting to change lanes / make a turn?
Or does one typically just perform those actions while keeping the hazards on?
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy
"A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book June 10, 2023, 07:43 PM
P250UA5quote:
Originally posted by konata88:
When one has hazards on, does one typically turn them off to use turn signals when wanting to change lanes / make a turn?
Or does one typically just perform those actions while keeping the hazards on?
In my Mercedes it would suspend the hazards to allow for the blinker usage, then resume hazards when the blinker canceled.
The Enemy's gate is down. June 11, 2023, 05:25 AM
henryazquote:
Originally posted by KBobAries:
Hazards are when a vehicle is somehow under duress or creating a potential hazard for others.
I see that around here almost always in construction zones, where the speed limit has been lowered to 35/45 (from 55/65). Someone actually obeying the lowered speed limit is a potential hazard to others, unfortunately. Vehicles obeying the limit and using their hazard lights in this situation gets my OK. In those lowered zones, many cars suddenly become magnetically attached to the one in front of them, and their horn button seems to get stuck.
When in doubt, mumble June 11, 2023, 02:23 PM
bobtheelfIf weather is so bad you need your hazards on, you should not be driving at all.
I'd really like to see a statute where states *require* hazards on while driving in weather.
https://www.rd.com/article/whe...lights-when-driving/June 11, 2023, 02:32 PM
bobtheelfquote:
Originally posted by pedropcola:
You guys are wrong on this. I don’t even understand the logic you think you are using. In a heavy downpour the forward visibility can get down to being measured in feet. Not hundreds of feet, just feet. Turning on your hazards on the freeway where visibility has gone from normal to basically approaching a car length or two absolutely increases your visibility to other cars. It is idiotic to say otherwise. Even at night it is beneficial in a torrential downpour. Saying it ruins other drivers ability to see means nothing where the rain has already reduced vis to nearly nothing.
Not only is it smart, it is absolutely legal. I know people say it is illegal in Texas but I would love to see that actual statute.
When visibility is poor to nonexistent, additional lighting is a good thing.
Don’t conflate slow drivers on clear days using hazards with using them in highly reduced vis conditions.
If it's that bad, you shouldn't be driving at all.
Hazards are for when you are a potential hazard.