Use of hazard warning lights

Ergates

Browntoa wrote: »

or as I see the other day to park up on one lane of a dual carriageway to take a phone call

You're assuming the phone call wasn't along the lines of "Help, my car has broken down" or "I'm having a stroke", etc.

Mistral001

Supersonos wrote: »

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

This use of hazard lights has traditionally been used by lorry drivers as a "thank you" to other lorry drivers for slowing down to let their slower more heavily loaded lorry pass.

Maybe you are reading the signal the wrong way and that it is just a "thank you".

sheramber

Also used 'up north' as a 'thank you' when someone pulls into a passing place to let you overtake on a single track road.

splishsplash

it's the done thing here to flash the hazards briefly to say thanks when a slow moving car or truck allows other traffic to pass.

It's like a mini conversation - the overtaking car flashes the hazards to say 'thank you'; the driver who slowed flashes their headlights to say 'you're welcome'.

mchale

Richard53 wrote: »

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.

Not really you may know what you are doing but for other road users they will have to guess what your actions are, see post 21, also it could be deemed on approach that the car in front (turning) was preparing to tow the car with its hazards on away,

also remember cars can breakdown anywhere on a road, even believe it or not on or close to junctions

I would class a temp obstruction as something immobile that you have to drive around, not a car turning.

Scrapit

mchale wrote: »

I would class a temp obstruction as something immobile that you have to drive around, not a car turning.

Then you would be wrong wouldn't you? Remember the posts from the HC?

Richard53

mchale wrote: »

it could be deemed on approach that the car in front (turning) was preparing to tow the car with its hazards on away

And only a fool would attempt to overtake in these circumstances, yes?

mchale wrote: »

Really :eek:, did anyone overtake you thinking you were broken down, cause I would have thought you had

mchale

Richard53 wrote: »

And only a fool would attempt to overtake in these circumstances, yes?

Yes agreed, similar to some one putting haz lights on for a car turning right in front of them

Richard53

mchale wrote: »

Yes agreed, similar to some one putting haz lights on for a car turning right in front of them

Yeah right

Begsey

Supersonos wrote: »

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...

Did he indicate when he was overtaking on the right?

I'm sure there will be motorbikes with hazard warning lights, I've never had one though (never had one newer than 2000).

Possible wiring fault?