It's hazardous to drive with hazard lights on (1 Viewer)

[Drunken knight]

People who don't use hazard lights on in hazardous situations are probably the ones who also don't use turn signals because "the other guy may speed up.

Just drove down to the middle of Los Angeles yesterday and had many instances where I put my turn signal on to change lanes and the car sped up to prevent me from doing so. Happened at least a half dozen times during the hour I was stuck in traffic. I did this with the purpose of seeing what would happen due to the various threads that have discussed this scenario.

You may not be believe it to be true but it is 100% true when driving in Los Angeles.

about 50-60% up here in Northern California.

I am a very aware driver and try to remove ambiguity from situations. predictability is safer. Signaling is very important. it is only these rare occasions that i do not.

 

[belljr]

Didn't answer the poll because this was not one of the options.
I've recently adopted a strategy that I've seen truck drivers do;
When highway traffic is fast and light, then coming to a sudden stop (or to almost stopped) ... like 70mph down to 15mph
... I turn on my hazards as I'm slowing to make sure the car 1000+ feet behind me is aware of the situation.
Once I feel the traffic behind me has slowed and is no longer a threat to me, I turn them off.
Too many distractions for todays drivers with cell phones while driving well beyond the speed limit.
I like the idea of giving myself as much help as possible to not get rear-ended.
and I do actually appreciate when people do this ahead of me.

Yep that was basically how I was describing it on terms of hitting a storm ahead of others but I've done this a couple times also if something is in the road

 

[jhib]

The ‘Truth’ About Driving With Hazard Lights Flashing During Bad Weather

Most experts say you should not drive with your hazard lights flashing in bad weather (even if it is legal). Here's why.

www.forbes.com

x.com

twitter.com

Wipers on, lights on, is all you need.

As someone who has done it, but only very rarely in pretty extreme visibility conditions (rain, snow, fog), it seems like pretty incomplete analysis.

The 1994 study they linked to seems to have nothing to do with driving with hazards on, but on how closely drivers pass a stationary vehicle with its hazards on. It actually makes it sound like if you're pulled over on the side of the road, you're safer with your hazards off than with them on.

As far as making it hard to determine your turning intentions, the only time I ever use them while driving is on the highway when going like half the speed limit camped out in the right lane. If I were to decide to pass someone, I'd turn off the hazards before using the turn signal.
These are probably in the conditions where the article says if it's bad enough to use your hazards than you probably shouldn't continue driving, but that doesn't mean it's better not to use your hazards if you do decide to continue driving.

 

[Gally]

People do sometimes speed up when you use turn signals but not using your turn signals because someone may speed up is weak.

I don't think most people are saying don't use turn signals. Personally, when in LA, I will use the signal but it is more in the instant before I start to move when I know I am coming over. It's more of an alert to the driver behind me that as I start to drift into the lane I am going to continue and that it's not just someone swerving because they are on their phone. I typically will have enough room already to start the transition and give the signal as a courtesy confirming I am coming over. If I don't have room (car behind me is even with my back end up to 1/3 of the body length) then signaling typically leads to the acceleration I described above and defeats the purpose (for driving in LA).

 

[Terminalxylem]

People do sometimes speed up when you use turn signals but not using your turn signals because someone may speed up is weak.

I don't think most people are saying don't use turn signals. Personally, when in LA, I will use the signal but it is more in the instant before I start to move when I know I am coming over. It's more of an alert to the driver behind me that as I start to drift into the lane I am going to continue and that it's not just someone swerving because they are on their phone. I typically will have enough room already to start the transition and give the signal as a courtesy confirming I am coming over. If I don't have room (car behind me is even with my back end up to 1/3 of the body length) then signaling typically leads to the acceleration I described above and defeats the purpose (for driving in LA).

FWIW, this is also illegal in many states.

 

[brun]

I chose never while moving. However, if "while being kidnapped and wanting to attract police attention" was available, I probably would have chosen that.

 

[SWC]

if you are driving and need to turn on your hazards because you are unsure of your ability to drive through conditions then you need to pull over and not drive until the conditions reduce to meet your abilities to command and control your vehicle take that to the bank bromigos

 

[Cowboysfan8]

if you are driving and need to turn on your hazards because you are unsure of your ability to drive through conditions then you need to pull over and not drive until the conditions reduce to meet your abilities to command and control your vehicle take that to the bank bromigos

Again…. It’s the other idiots on the road that are my concern

 

[Bossman]

People do sometimes speed up when you use turn signals but not using your turn signals because someone may speed up is weak.

I don't think most people are saying don't use turn signals. Personally, when in LA, I will use the signal but it is more in the instant before I start to move when I know I am coming over. It's more of an alert to the driver behind me that as I start to drift into the lane I am going to continue and that it's not just someone swerving because they are on their phone. I typically will have enough room already to start the transition and give the signal as a courtesy confirming I am coming over. If I don't have room (car behind me is even with my back end up to 1/3 of the body length) then signaling typically leads to the acceleration I described above and defeats the purpose (for driving in LA).

^ This is the correct way to use your directional when changing lanes.
Others in here will argue that you put on your directional first, then look to see if there is an opening ... lol.
but hazzards should only be used in an emergency situation to warn unsuspecting drivers ... like when you're leaving the bar at 1am and have them on until you get to your driveway. Perfect example in Wolf of Walstreet is when Leo Decaprio's character drove from the club to home in his Lambo.
should have used hazzards

 

[Chaka]

Others in here will argue that you put on your directional first, then look to see if there is an opening ... lol.

Some turn signal is better than no turn signal but why "lol"?

Because you worry someone will speed up to prevent you from making your lane change?

 

[Bossman]

Others in here will argue that you put on your directional first, then look to see if there is an opening ... lol.

Some turn signal is better than no turn signal but why "lol"?

Because you worry someone will speed up to prevent you from making your lane change?

because using your signal when there is no opening causes uncertainty in the driver that is overtaking you.
"Oh, dang ... is this guy coming over now? ... does he not see me?? ... I'm bracing for evasive maneuvers just in case he's coming!!"
Look first, wait for an opening, then signal and change lanes.

 

[Chaka]

Others in here will argue that you put on your directional first, then look to see if there is an opening ... lol.

Some turn signal is better than no turn signal but why "lol"?

Because you worry someone will speed up to prevent you from making your lane change?

because using your signal when there is no opening causes uncertainty in the driver that is overtaking you.
"Oh, dang ... is this guy coming over now? ... does he not see me?? ... I'm bracing for evasive maneuvers just in case he's coming!!"
Look first, wait for an opening, then signal and change lanes.

To be clear I absolutely agree with "Look first, wait for an opening, then signal and change lanes." It's the time allotment for each portion that I am having difficulty with.

So, in this scenario the other driver is assuming that everyone puts on a turn signal only at the last second and is locked into the lane change.

That seems like spurious logic.

What about heavy traffic situations where openings are infrequent? In that scenario you are likely well under the speed limit due to traffic, does the scenario hold?

 

[Bossman]

Others in here will argue that you put on your directional first, then look to see if there is an opening ... lol.

Some turn signal is better than no turn signal but why "lol"?

Because you worry someone will speed up to prevent you from making your lane change?

because using your signal when there is no opening causes uncertainty in the driver that is overtaking you.
"Oh, dang ... is this guy coming over now? ... does he not see me?? ... I'm bracing for evasive maneuvers just in case he's coming!!"
Look first, wait for an opening, then signal and change lanes.

To be clear I absolutely agree with "Look first, wait for an opening, then signal and change lanes." It's the time allotment for each portion that I am having difficulty with.

So, in this scenario the other driver is assuming that everyone puts on a turn signal only at the last second and is locked into the lane change.

That seems like spurious logic.

What about heavy traffic situations where openings are infrequent? In that scenario you are likely well under the speed limit due to traffic, does the scenario hold?

I give a blink or two before actually sliding over. I'm in no rush since I've already looked and made sure the coast is clear.
Heavy traffic is a different ball game. If it's a tight window, it's gonna be a blink and go scenario where you don't have an opportunity to speed up and shut me down.
buy yeah, when I commit to the lane change, you bet I've got my throttle foot on the other side of the firewall to get going and match the speed of the lane I'm entering.
This obviously requires a little planning in that I give a little distance between me and the car in front of me so I can start to increase speed.
The danger is when someone enters a lane going much slower than the flow of traffic. It's also very annoying to drivers that are already in said lane. Don't do that.

 

[Chaka]

Others in here will argue that you put on your directional first, then look to see if there is an opening ... lol.

Some turn signal is better than no turn signal but why "lol"?

Because you worry someone will speed up to prevent you from making your lane change?

because using your signal when there is no opening causes uncertainty in the driver that is overtaking you.
"Oh, dang ... is this guy coming over now? ... does he not see me?? ... I'm bracing for evasive maneuvers just in case he's coming!!"
Look first, wait for an opening, then signal and change lanes.

To be clear I absolutely agree with "Look first, wait for an opening, then signal and change lanes." It's the time allotment for each portion that I am having difficulty with.

So, in this scenario the other driver is assuming that everyone puts on a turn signal only at the last second and is locked into the lane change.

That seems like spurious logic.

What about heavy traffic situations where openings are infrequent? In that scenario you are likely well under the speed limit due to traffic, does the scenario hold?

I give a blink or two before actually sliding over. I'm in no rush since I've already looked and made sure the coast is clear.
Heavy traffic is a different ball game. If it's a tight window, it's gonna be a blink and go scenario where you don't have an opportunity to speed up and shut me down.
buy yeah, when I commit to the lane change, you bet I've got my throttle foot on the other side of the firewall to get going and match the speed of the lane I'm entering.
This obviously requires a little planning in that I give a little distance between me and the car in front of me so I can start to increase speed.
The danger is when someone enters a lane going much slower than the flow of traffic. It's also very annoying to drivers that are already in said lane. Don't do that.

Sounds like we're pretty much on the same page. Not a fan of "oversignaling" either, we don't need 2 minutes notice.

 

[eighsse2]

Lost in the hubbub is the fact that two respondents selected "All the time". Can we pool some money together to get their cars repaired?

 

[FarFromHome]

I'm 49. Been driving for a long time. Never lived near Interstate driving until 3 years ago. At first I avoided Interstates, now I love them. Two weeks ago driving back from Daytona heavy heavy rain hit us. I noticed in that moment of heavy rain, where u can't see hardly anything, people turned on hazard lights. Id never seen or even heard of it before. It made sense. I followed suit. In that moment it seemed to help.