Use of hazard warning lights

AdrianC

Car_54 wrote: »

I said “except in defined circumstances”. That is one of them.

There y'go, then. Filtering through traffic is perfectly legal. No maximum speed given, either.

JP1978

AdrianC wrote: »

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.

And no part of it says that you can either, unless you take the bits that refer to under taking under certain conditions.

I do believe though in case law (I saw it on MCN many years ago) that a court case set a precedent that while its expected that all road users should watch for motorcyclists whom are filtering as per the HC, that expectation should be diminished when the traffic speed is higher.

It basically said that when traffic is slow in two or more lanes, it would be reasonable to expect other road users to identify filtering motorcyclists before changing lane. However, when traffic is faster and the motorists concentration will be focused more on the road ahead, as it should be, motorcyclists should not filter. The case in question was bought as a result in a rider been knocked off by a car changing lanes at 50+ mph as the rider was 'filtering' (undertaking between lanes 2 & 3) and the driver moved left slightly in the lane.

Anyway, as you were, back onto Hazard lights.

AdrianC

JP1978 wrote: »

And no part of it says that you can either

Unless the law says you can't, you can. The HC doesn't even sat you shouldn't.

Car_54

AdrianC wrote: »

There y'go, then. Filtering through traffic is perfectly legal. No maximum speed given, either.

But the para from which you selectively quoted actually reads “stay in your lane if traffic is moving slowly in queues. If the queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are, you may pass on the left.”

Nothing wrong with filtering in those circs, but I see it done when traffic is neither slow nor queuing.

Robisere

Probably getting flamed for this:
In my corner of rural Lincolnshire, there is a lot of agricultural traffic and no dual carriageways. Agri traffic drivers find a safe place to pull over onto the verge and let a built up queue of traffic pass. It's standard practice here for the last vehicle overtaking the Agri vehicle to flash his hazards just twice, in thanks.

building_with_lego

Robisere wrote: »

Probably getting flamed for this:
In my corner of rural Lincolnshire, there is a lot of agricultural traffic and no dual carriageways. Agri traffic drivers find a safe place to pull over onto the verge and let a built up queue of traffic pass. It's standard practice here for the last vehicle overtaking the Agri vehicle to flash his hazards just twice, in thanks.

The first time I drive on a motorway I moved into lane 2 to let a lorry join from the slip road. He flashed his hazards twice, and I remarked upon it to my partner (many years' experience driving), who explained that "That's how they say thanks." It's become a thing among truckers who can't always see each other to wave a thanks, and has spread among the general population. I've seen it referenced in a book about manners too.

I'm going to get flamed for this, but I rather like it




If we're worrying about that, we should also worry about people flashing to indicate "please pull out in front of me". I see that far more frequently.

shinytop

I saw van yesterday where the message being conveyed looked to be something like, "I'm texting, best stay out of my way"

Supersonos

MikeWhite wrote: »

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

AdrianC wrote: »

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.

He was overtaking vehicles in his own lane. He was in lane 3 and as the traffic slowed to a speed he deemed too slow, he'd put on his hazards, go inbetween lanes 2 and 3 and then cut back into lane 3.

I'm not necessarily making comment on his manoeuvre, more his strange use of hazard lights whilst performing it.

MikeWhite

Supersonos wrote: »

I'm not necessarily making comment on his manoeuvre, more his strange use of hazard lights whilst performing it.

I agree that it's a misuse of hazard lights. I don't use them when filtering but lots do.
You inferred the maoeuvre was illegal in your OP, btw!

Richard53

mchale wrote: »

Really :eek:, did anyone overtake you thinking you were broken down, cause I would have thought you had, in my mind a car turning right in front of you is "not a temporary obstruction"

Blimey, you're making this hard work.

1. It was a fast main road on a very bright sunny day.

2. The junction was shaded by trees and the waiting car was almost invisible in the shade as I approached it. Eyes take time to adjust after bright light.

3. I therefore flashed my hazard lights briefly to draw the attention of a car approaching fast behind, as I couldn't be sure he was paying as much attention as I was. As soon as he slowed down, I turned them off.

If someone approached two cars in this situation and thought "ah, one of them's broken down" and tried to overtake (it's at a junction, remember), he's an idiot.

And yes, even if the driver is performing a legal manoeuvre, if it bring traffic on a fast main road to a standstill, I think you could fairly call it a temporary obstruction.