Increasing trend of motorists using hazard lights in the rain

[whynot]

Start rant ...

It has been another wet summer where I live, and I am seeing more and more people driving around in heavy rain with their indicator lights flashing in hazard mode. At first, I thought this was due to idiot influencers from TicTok passing on their advice to snowflakes on how to drive. But then I read the latest and official “Your keys to driving in Queensland – No 19, Nov 22” and it says this on page 151;

“Only use your hazard lights if you are driving in hazardous weather conditions and you are driving slowly and likely to obstruct other vehicles, or your vehicle is stopped and is obstructing the path of other vehicles or pedestrians.”

And places this sentence in ahead of better advice like, turn on headlights, using fog lights, slowing down, and doubling following distance.

Given the way people read, interpret, and retain information, it is no wonder that the first recallable action from a driver’s Checklist Memory Items, in a task saturated activity like driving in heavy rain, is to activate hazard lights.

Yeah, I get it. Driving in heavy rain is no joke. It is a valid, often sensible, option to pull over to the side of the road in heavy rain where safe to do so. And to then activate hazard lights to let other drivers know you are stopped. I can also understand leaving hazard lights on while slowly repositioning vehicle to an even better stopping point.

However, somewhere along the line, the message about using hazard lights has gotten lost. At first, I was seeing drivers turn on their hazards in heavy rain, but still whizzing along at the speed limit. Now, it is getting to the point that even in moderate rain, on come the hazard lights in some cars. And because “that car over there is doing it” results in copy cat behaviours.

Sigh. Rant over.

[Citroënbender]

Hazard lights should only be used when picking up a rideshare passenger or school children from a No Stopping zone.

[rare ss]

Newer cars the hazards come on when you're on the brakes hard

[Rob 351]

It’s an American thing. I’ve been there a few times and when there’s heavy rain, everyone seems to turn on their hazards. Particularly on the Interstate highways.
Not saying it’s right, but I reckon that’s where it’s coming from!

[Citroënbender]

But… Aren’t we part of America now? Kids “graduate” from kindy, people mouth off about their “rights” and believe the 5th Amendment applies, and just look at all the barracking for a presidential election almost nobody here could vote upon.

[GeeEmm]

Not seen this, but have seen it in the slow-traffic-in-torrential-rain situation, where poor visibility required slowing from the usual 110-120kph in pouring rain to something around 80-90kph, that is what I did too, before I found a spot to pull off, leaving the hazards on to hopefully avoid someone ploughing into the back of me. Most cars seemed to be on hazards, otherwise only brakelights showed through the spray, and that could set off seriously bad chain reactions.

After 10-15 minutes watching the hordes stream past blindly following the lights in front, no chance of stopping if required, the rain slacked off enough to get going again, so I did, expecting to come across some amount of carnage ... but nothing, nobody even aquaplaned into the shrubbery. Go figure.

[T3rminator]

Normal in the UK. Heavy rain or fog, the hazards will come on. No big deal.

People also use hazards to say "thank you", for example, if you gave way.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Hazard lights should only be used when picking up a rideshare passenger or school children from a No Stopping zone.

Signs here on the freeway saying hazards may be used in thick fog.

[whynot]

I don't get the use of hazard lights in fog either. That is what the rear fog light is for.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by whynot

I don't get the use of hazard lights in fog either. That is what the rear fog light is for.

Me either.

But not every car has a rear fog light either.

[uranium_death]

I am yet to see it, so it can't be that much of a trend
If extremely inclement weather means you need to drive slowly due to reduced visibility, then using the hazards makes sense.

I would have an issue with somebody driving at the limit in a drizzle with their hazards on.

I wish it was a trend where people turn their headlights on in the rain. The number of dunderheads who are prepared to drive on a freeway in the rain in a dark car without headlights is scary, given how difficult it can be to see them in the mirror.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by whynot

I don't get the use of hazard lights in fog either. That is what the rear fog light is for.

Not all cars have rear fog lights, and I guess using hazard lights when you think you are in a hazardous situation is ok, but of course it will come down to as how sensible the driver is with their judgement in these situations.

[simon varley]

you are driving slowly and likely to obstruct other vehicles

I suggest that this comment is meant to be VERY slowly. Like 'almost stationary' slowly, or '50 under the limit' slowly. In that case you are definitely a hazard, and it's legitimate use.
People are just too stupid to understand

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Hazard lights should only be used when picking up a rideshare passenger or school children from a No Stopping zone.

or when driving a Camry, to warn others that you are a twat.

[EBSXR6]

I would be happy if some of the locals used lights.

[Cav]

The chicks are hitting on me something awful without my using hazard lights, imagine how difficult it would be for me to fight them off when hazard lights are go!

[whynot]

Originally Posted by Cav

The chicks are hitting on me something awful without my using hazard lights, imagine how difficult it would be for me to fight them off when hazard lights are go!

I always thought that when you travelled it was with a number of escorts who would take care of such matters so you would be unnecessarily burdened with such worries.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

But… Aren’t we part of America now? Kids “graduate” from kindy, people mouth off about their “rights” and believe the 5th Amendment applies, and just look at all the barracking for a presidential election almost nobody here could vote upon.

I might disagree with some of what you just said, but I sure as heck support your 1st amendment right to say it!

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

But… Aren’t we part of America now? Kids “graduate” from kindy, people mouth off about their “rights” and believe the 5th Amendment applies, and just look at all the barracking for a presidential election almost nobody here could vote upon.

The US exports culture, it's just the dominant one in our country for the past ~30 years.

[CyberWasp]

In Sydney I see people using 2 flashes of the hazard lights to say thank you when being let in to merge.
I know it sounds crazy saying thank you on a public road. What’s with that.
It started with trucks and buses but people in cars are doing it too now.
The old hand wave is not always visible I am guessing.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

In Sydney I see people using 2 flashes of the hazard lights to say thank you when being let in to merge.
I know it sounds crazy saying thank you on a public road. What’s with that.
It started with trucks and buses but people in cars are doing it too now.
The old hand wave is not always visible I am guessing.

I'm finding in Melbourne no **** waves anymore, you let people in and its just become expected, and hardly anyone gives you the courtesy wave. Its chronic out Western suburbs, chock full of flogs.