Using hazard lights to say "Thank You"?

BillScarab

I thought it was illegal to use hazard lights when being towed. However as others have said it is common to use them when suddenly slowing on a motorway for example. In fact on some cars they are automatically activated if you have to brake sharply in an emergency.

I've never heard of anyone flaashing their brake lights to say thanks.

This is what the Highway code says about hazards

"Hazard warning lights. These may be used when your vehicle is stationary, to warn that it is temporarily obstructing traffic. Never use them as an excuse for dangerous or illegal parking. You MUST NOT use hazard warning lights while driving or being towed unless you are on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead. Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been observed."

MaximumImpact

The Highway code is not law,it is best practice and/or advice. However the Police could look at offences around ''misuse of lights'' Con and Use regulations etc, dependant on the effect of the use on other drivers.

Debt_Free_Chick

MaximumImpact wrote: »

The Highway code is not law,

Much of it is - or rather, it confirms the law (various road/traffic acts). The code cites the relevant law, in places.


BillScarab quoted from the HC, re hazard lights, but that confirms what is already in the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations

BillScarab

Sorry, should have said that bit is one of the bits that is law.

KK22_2

I have never, ever heard of anyone using their brake lights as a thank you! If someone thanked me that way for letting them in front of me, i'd soon be regretting my decision after wondering what the hell they were playing at!!

I have noticed that the majority of drivers use their hazard lights to thank people now. I think it might have started with bus drivers, since you are more likely to see that than them sticking their arm out of their window.

CrispyUK

I use the indicator 'waggle' that MaximumImpact described earlier to thank people that have let me in, although have also seen people using a couple of hazard flashes to do the same thing, seems to be common with the bus drivers here in Plymouth.

Only ever seen brake lights flashed in response to my headlight flashing at a BMW who decided to undertake me & cut in front on the M6 - followed up by hand signals (not ones that would be found in the highway code )

Of course while we're arguing about the right/wrong ways to thank drivers in accordance with the highway code, have noticed nobody has mentioned that according to the highway code headlights should only be flashed to indicate your presence and not for any purpose - but they're widely used in the UK as a 'giving-way' indication.

Perhaps courtesy lights should be added to cars, couple of green 'go' lights to flash on the front and a matrix board that can flash up 'THANKS' on the rear (along with 'BACK OFF' for those determined to get into your boot )

Mark_Hewitt

The most common use of the headlight flash I see is between HGV drivers. Usually when one HGV is overtaking another the one in the left hand lane will flash their headlights to indicate to the overtaking driver that his trailer is clear and it's safe to pull back to the left.

Debt_Free_Chick

The problem with using any of your lights to say "Thank You" is that it's open to misunderstanding.

You "use your lights" and what do other drivers think you mean .....?

Headlight flash - do you mean "look out" or do you mean "OK to pull out, pull in, turn or whatever" ?

Hazard flash - do you mean "look out" or do you mean "thank you"

Brake lights flash - do you mean "I'm stopping" or do you mean "thank you" or "back off"?

It's simply far safer to use the hand to say "thanks" and leave the lights to serve the purpose for which they were originally intended .... IMHO

Inactive

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

It's simply far safer to use the hand to say "thanks" and leave the lights to serve the purpose for which they were originally intended .... IMHO

Agreed, if we all do the correct thing, then there is no confusion.

GT60

oldagetraveller wrote: »

You're lucky to get a thanks of any sort these days. I doubt common courtesy is taught to new drivers now? They're too busy peering into the fog through their "designer" sunglasses! Yes, you know who you are.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :T