Hazard lights: Do’s and Don’ts

THE hazard lights, also known as emergency/ hazard flashers or hazard-warning flashers/lights is referred to as “the synchronous flashing of all turnsignal indicators that should be functional when the corresponding switch/button at the instrument panel is activated, even with the ignition off”. The activation of hazard lights is typically controlled manually by the driver by pushing a switch/button with the triangle symbol.

In some vehicles, automatic hazard lights activation is embedded in the lighting system for certain emergency situations such as sudden deceleration due to very-hard braking or detection by rear pre-crash safety system. Therefore, the function of hazard lights for vehicles is to emit “hazard signal” to other road users so that they can take necessary precautions i.e. crash avoidance effort.

In Malaysia, we see motorists using their hazard lights not only during “certain emergency situations such as sudden deceleration due to harsh braking or detection by rear pre-crash safety system”, but also during funerals, wedding and celebratory/festive processions, while the vehicle is being towed, and the most common of all, during very heavy rain. In a couple of countries I’ve been to, turning on your hazard lights for a few seconds means “I’m sorry!” for making an abrupt U-turn or things deemed as “not nice”.

You may be one of those people who turn on the hazard lights while driving in very heavy rain, because you want to increase your visibility. But some experts say that would make other drivers think you have stopped/stalled or driving at very slow speeds. Also, those flashing hazard lights prevent you from using your turn signals as you normally would.

Those same experts recommend using your low beams (those “normal” head and taillights), instead, to make sure other drivers can see your vehicle in hazardous conditions. And if your car has foglights front and back, that’s even better.

If the weather is so bad that you are sure other motorists aren’t able to see you without your hazard lights flashing, it’s better to pull over to a safe place until the heavy rain subsides. Such downpour in Malaysia don’t go on for too long, anyway. Use your hazard lights only when your car is stopped or disabled on the road.

Strangely, there is no mention on the usage of hazard lights in either the Malaysian Road Transport Act 1987 or its Road Transport Rules counterpart. So, while the debate on the proper use of hazard lights keeps going, you must know what they really are for. This is important as motorists will typically slow down when they see hazard lights illuminated. Improper use of hazard lights can in itself become a potential hazard. Always refer to the Owner’s Manual, at the very least!

Most countries’ Highway Code rules state that you must not use your hazard lights while driving or being towed unless you need to warn drivers behind you (or ahead) of a hazard or obstruction ahead.

If you are moving slowly in particular, it may seem courteous and perhaps even common sense to activate your hazard lights. Problems arise however when you intend on changing direction, junctions and lanes as an inability to signal due to hazard lights being activated will become highly dangerous as motorists will have no way of knowing which direction you intend on taking.

Another situation when it may seem appropriate to use hazard lights is if you are moving much slower that other traffic because you are looking for a building, are lost or are unsure where you are going. Again, this renders your indicators ineffective and causes confusion to other motorists. If you find yourself in this situation and are becoming stressed, do not use your hazard lights and instead pull over if possible or find a legal place to stop to wait for traffic to subside.

Hazard lights may be used when a vehicle is stationary and is causing a temporary obstruction to other traffic (i.e. your vehicle is a potential hazard on the road and is giving a “Watch Out For Me!” alert to everyone).

But bear in mind that as far as the law is concerned, the use of hazard lights as an excuse for parking illegally or dangerously will not lessen the offence.

The decision to activate hazard lights whilst stationary must be decided depending on each situation.

A vehicle, may for example, be parked with the hazard lights activated because the left (nearside) indicators could be obscured by other parked vehicles or objects giving the impression that the vehicle intends to pull out (since only the righthand side indicator is seen flashing), ultimately causing more of a potential hazard than if the hazards were not activated. It’s important to ensure that the use of hazard lights help other road users and not further confuse matters. – Azlan Ramli