Use of hazard warning lights

Supersonos

My understanding is that hazard lights are there to warn other drivers on the very rare occasions you're stranded and are causing an obstruction/hazard.

But it seems I've been wrong all these years - they're actually to cancel out illegal activity.

The other day in heavy traffic on the M5, a motorcyclist would put on his hazards every time he decided to overtake on the left. I guess this thinking is that if it causes an accident, it's not his fault because he was warning people that he's a temporary hazard...

Then there's using them to make illegal parking legal.

And putting them on so you can drive in a bus lane.

And, of course, the new phenomenon of using them to "apologise" for cutting someone up.

Browntoa

They also allow you to park on a double yellow to "pop into a shop" or as I see the other day to park up on one lane of a dual carriageway to take a phone call

worried_jim

In 27 years of motoring I don't think I've ever used them.

peter_the_piper

Having seen rear end shunts on a nearby hill with a school and junction I always use them when coming up to a vehicle turning right and stopped waiting for a gap.

lister

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Having seen rear end shunts on a nearby hill with a school and junction I always use them when coming up to a vehicle turning right and stopped waiting for a gap.

Surely what the brake lights are for? If a following driver for whatever doesn't see your brake lights as you slow and stop, why would they see your hazard lights?

The problem with all incorrect usage of warning equipment is that it devalues the correct use. Can you imagine how many flashing amber lights there would be if everyone put their hazards on when they were waiting to turn right or behind someone else who is waiting?

What if Mr/Mrs/Ms Impatient behind you thinks you have broken down and commits to going around without due consideration. Risks with oncoming traffic or the right turning vehicle suddenly increase dramatically.

Believe it or not, when people write laws and guidance, they think about a great many possibilities, far more than the average driver on the street thinks about, so in almost all cases, following official guidance is the safest overall approach.

Andy_L

Supersonos wrote: »

My understanding is that hazard lights are there to warn other drivers on the very rare occasions you're stranded and are causing an obstruction/hazard.

You can also use them when moving "on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead"[/QUOTE]

MikeWhite

Supersonos wrote: »

My understanding is that hazard lights are there to warn other drivers on the very rare occasions you're stranded and are causing an obstruction/hazard.

But it seems I've been wrong all these years - they're actually to cancel out illegal activity.

The other day in heavy traffic on the M5, a motorcyclist would put on his hazards every time he decided to overtake on the left. I guess this thinking is that if it causes an accident, it's not his fault because he was warning people that he's a temporary hazard...

Then there's using them to make illegal parking legal.

And putting them on so you can drive in a bus lane.

And, of course, the new phenomenon of using them to "apologise" for cutting someone up.

If his lane was moving faster it's permitted. Unless (likely) s/he was weaving in and out to the faster lane?

AdrianC

Supersonos wrote: »

My understanding is that hazard lights are there to warn other drivers on the very rare occasions you're stranded and are causing an obstruction/hazard.

Highway_Code wrote:

116 - 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.
Law RVLR reg 27

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/general-rules-techniques-and-advice-for-all-drivers-and-riders-103-to-158

RVLR wrote:

27. No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road any vehicle on which any lamp, hazard warning signal device or warning beacon of a type specified in an item in column 2 of the Table below is used in a manner specified in that item in column 3.

5 Hazard warning signal device
Used other than–

(i)to warn persons using the road of a temporary obstruction when the vehicle is at rest; or
(ii)on a motorway or unrestricted dual-carriageway, to warn following drivers of a need to slow down due to a temporary obstruction ahead; or
(iii)in the case of a bus, to summon assistance for the driver or any person acting as a conductor or inspector on the vehicle.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/regulation/27/made

But it seems I've been wrong all these years - they're actually to cancel out illegal activity.

The other day in heavy traffic on the M5, a motorcyclist would put on his hazards every time he decided to overtake on the left.

Hazard lights aside, filtering is perfectly legal. Rule 211 tells you to watch for motorcyclists doing it. No part of the HC says they can't.

oldagetraveller

Andy_L wrote: »

You can also use them when moving "on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead"

[/QUOTE]


Unless it's changed and my memory is flawed, didn't/do hazards switch on automatically under heavy braking (some car marques/models)?
Watching some of those Russian Youtube videos, it would seem that hazards there automatically switch on after a "shunt". I did see one where a driver lost control, his car rolled two or three times and ended up on it's roof. I shouldn't have been, but was amused to see that either the hazards came on automatically or he had the presence of mind/ability to switch them on himself!

AdrianC

oldagetraveller wrote: »

Unless it's changed and my memory is flawed, didn't/do hazards switch on automatically under heavy braking (some car marques/models)?

Yep, emergency braking assist and stability control tend to activate hazards if they get a bit excited.

Car_54

MikeWhite wrote: »

If his lane was moving faster it's permitted. Unless (likely) s/he was weaving in and out to the faster lane?

The overtaking may be legal, but the use of hazards isn’t.