Was I Wrong? Driving with hazard lights on

[Cal166]

So as you know the North East had a major rain storm over the weekend. I was driving on Saturday afternoon on the highway, the rain was not bad at first then just came down like crazy. I could barely see the car infront of me, so I slowed down a bit and turned my hazard lights on and stayed in the same lane all the way. Some dude came up to the left of me, honk and gave me the middle finger....5 seconds later we past by an accident and from the looks of it the SUV stopped short behind another car, the front lip of the SUV was totally gone. In my head, I was thinking I wish it was that asshole whole gave me the finger.

Was I wrong for driving with my hazard lights on? Was I wrong to think that he should had been the one in the accident?

 

[Gibson486]

I do it sometimes. In fact, people in China drive with them on when it rains.

 

[dainthomas]

If it's bad enough that you feel the need to use them while driving or you risk death, then just pull over.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

You're not supposed to drive with the hazards on at all.

 

[ViviTheMage]

If it's bad enough that you feel the need to use them while driving or you risk death, then just pull over.

or under a bridge.

 

[JD50]

Yes, people that drive with their hazards on annoy me.

 

[Cal166]

If it's bad enough that you feel the need to use them while driving or you risk death, then just pull over.

In the past, I usually turn them on when it's heavy rain, fog, or heavy snow. Most tractor trailers turns them on, I got the idea from them.

 

[HannibalX]

I do it if I think it's bad enough. Basically if I can't drive the speed limit and have to slow down I put them on. What kills me is people who refuse to use their lights in the rain. It's the law in Florida but people ignore it.

 

[DougK62]

You shouldn't turn them on if you're moving - especially on a highway. You should have pulled off and stopped if you were going to use your hazards. It's dangerous.

 

[Kirby]

Yes, people that drive with their hazards on annoy me.

this

 

[Zargon]

this is common where I live in bad storms and heavy fog.

I did it Tuesday for about 1/2 an hour

but I was in a funeral procession

I don't to see how having them on is dangerous


it greatly increase visibilty and depth perception of vehicles when the lights flash

 

[Zee]

pull over then.

 

[DougK62]

this is common where I live in bad storms and heavy fog.

I did it Tuesday for about 1/2 an hour

but I was in a funeral procession

I don't to see how having them on is dangerous

it greatly increase visibilty and depth perception of vehicles when the lights flash

It's dangerous because everyone associates the hazard lights with a stopped or inoperable vehicle. THAT really messes with people's depth perception, especially on a highway. A vehicle giving you indication that it is stopped when it's really traveling at 45mph on the road can be dangerous. It's just not what they're for.

And I'll buy your increased visibility argument, but no way does it help with depth perception when compared to a non-flashing light.

 

[bignateyk]

Beats me. I always see the truckers using them in heavy fog, so I figured it was an ok thing to do. I don't see how driving with them on in low visibility could be dangerous.

I personally have never done it, but i've seen plenty of people do it before and have never gotten upset about it.

I do get pissed at people who drive 30mph through heavy fog. That's probably what he was pissed at. It's more dangerous to drive under the speed limit through low visibility than it is to drive the speed limit because people who are driving the limit won't see you in time to avoid you if you are driving really slow.

My guess is he was pissed because you were driving so slow.

 

[Cal166]

Beats me. I always see the truckers using them in heavy fog, so I figured it was an ok thing to do. I don't see how driving with them on in low visibility could be dangerous.

I personally have never done it, but i've seen plenty of people do it before and have never gotten upset about it.

I do get pissed at people who drive 30mph through heavy fog. That's probably what he was pissed at. It's more dangerous to drive under the speed limit through low visibility than it is to drive the speed limit because people who are driving the limit won't see you in time to avoid you if you are driving really slow.

My guess is he was pissed because you were driving so slow.

Yea, That's where I figure it was ok to do it since most truckers has them on. As for the driving too slow, I was actually in the middle lane following a car or two behind to be safe from stopping short.

 

[MJinZ]

Has no one heard of turning on their headlights and taillights?

Contrary to popular belief (apparently), these constantly lit red lights provide a large amount of conspicuousness to your vehicle.

 

[Felisity]

So as you know the North East had a major rain storm over the weekend. I was driving on Saturday afternoon on the highway, the rain was not bad at first then just came down like crazy.....

Was I wrong for driving with my hazard lights on? Was I wrong to think that he should had been the one in the accident?

Your only problem was you were driving in the North East and some a-hole decided to be a douche. Typical for the NE. I wouldn't worry about it. Bar none, the rudest drivers in the country live here.

In my experiences, during bad storms lots of drivers (especially truckers) use their hazards + lights and slow down to ~35-40 mph. IMO, it's an acceptable practice so long as you feel you are in complete control of your vehicle. If you don't feel that way, just stop. I'd rather make myself as visible as possible, slow to a speed I can handle and keep moving.

 

[JD50]

Yep, as long as you have your tail lights on I can see you just fine, no need to put those annoying hazards on.

 

[Felisity]

Has no one heard of turning on their headlights and taillights?

Contrary to popular belief (apparently), these constantly lit red lights provide a large amount of conspicuousness to your vehicle.

You have obviously never been in a rainstorm where the force of the rain was so fierce that it blocked out tail lights on vehicles in front of you and headlights from vehicles behind you. During the daytime hours in rainstorms very severe, it's near impossible to see any normal lights easily. Hazards are brighter and provide a constant movement, thus are easier to spot / more visible.

 

[spidey07]

You are supposed to use your hazzard lights in low visibility conditions. You weren't in the wrong, you were being safe. National Highway Safety and Transportation Administration says so. It should be a law, and in some places it is.

 

[JD50]

You have obviously never been in a rainstorm where the force of the rain was so fierce that it blocked out tail lights on vehicles in front of you and headlights from vehicles behind you. During the daytime hours in rainstorms very severe, it's near impossible to see any normal lights easily. Hazards are brighter and provide a constant movement, thus are easier to spot / more visible.

If it's that bad then you should probably just pull over.

 

[mvbighead]

I generally turn them on briefly in a situation where something is going to cause traffic to drastically change speed (IE - an accident just happened ahead and we're going to be dropping speed from 75 MPH to 25 MPH). Once I have seen the majority of traffic behind me slow down, I turn them off. I am just not a fan of seeing people not see something ahead, and then being in the rear end of my car or the ditch or median beside me.

 

[Felisity]

It's dangerous because everyone associates the hazard lights with a stopped or inoperable vehicle. THAT really messes with people's depth perception, especially on a highway. A vehicle giving you indication that it is stopped when it's really traveling at 45mph on the road can be dangerous. It's just not what they're for.

And I'll buy your increased visibility argument, but no way does it help with depth perception when compared to a non-flashing light.

I can understand this point too and find it valid. It really depends on the part of the country you live in / are driving in. People in the south - southeast are accustomed to seeing severe daytime storms that are slow moving and sometimes you're forced to travel in the direct path of the storm. Your choices are to stop for 2-3 hours or to drive at a speed you feel comfortable with and increase your visibility. Thus, people use hazards.

 

[dainthomas]

Yea, That's where I figure it was ok to do it since most truckers has them on. As for the driving too slow, I was actually in the middle lane following a car or two behind to be safe from stopping short.

There are two issues that have been mentioned:

1. Most people associate hazards with being stopped. This could cause someone to run into you.
2. If the visibility is that bad where you have to reduce your speed and turn your hazards on, you shouldn't be driving. It's not like you're getting anywhere fast anyway.

 

[Felisity]

If it's that bad then you should probably just pull over.

See my previous post.