Hazard lights on the move

[supermono]

The eejit who designed my Peugeot 207 has fitted it with a feature where the hazard lights come on if you brake a bit hard. It's supposed to warn other road users of an emergency.

Now in the damp they seem to come on quite often during fairly routine braking, and it's a PITA. Especially if you're already dealing with negotiating a wet roundabout at speed.

So, if a policeman witnessed me crossing a roundabout with my hazard lights on, would he write me up and for what offence?

Does anyone know if it can be disabled?

SM
eta: not to mention the confusion it causes other road users trying to figure out where I'm going next!

Edited by supermono on Tuesday 16th September 11:49

[Einion Yrth]

Highway code said:

116

Hazard warning lights. These may be used when your vehicle is stationary, to warn that it is temporarily obstructing traffic. Never use them as an excuse for dangerous or illegal parking. You MUST NOT use hazard warning lights while driving or being towed unless you are on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead. Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been observed.

(Law RVLR reg 27)

Get 'em fixed SM.

[supermono]

Agreed. So why would Peugeot create this?

SM

[Einion Yrth]

supermono said:

Agreed. So why would Peugeot create this?

SM

Who knows? They're French and thus make women seem comprehensible.

[BiggusLaddus]

Mine also do it (current shape Mondeo), but I've only ever had them come on once when I had brake very hard.

[supermono]

BiggusLaddus said:

Mine also do it (current shape Mondeo), but I've only ever had them come on once when I had brake very hard.

Pussy.

SM

[Thudd]

Mine only did it when someone crashed into me on the M1 at 70MPH.

That was a SEAT tho.

Apparently they were still going an hour later when my parents saw the car go past on the recovery van. Wouldn't turn off.

[JustDerv]

I believe this feature can be disabled, my Citroen C5 was the same. Only problem is, it means a trip to the dealer, where they'll hook the car up to the computer and then might, or might not, manage to stuff up some other settings too (think auto wipers or auto headlights!)

[Einion Yrth]

JustDerv said:

(think auto wipers or auto headlights!)

Why would one want either? I can tell if it's dark, and I can tell if it's raining and it's not too much effort tp flick a little switch. Pointless bloody gimmicks.

[JustDerv]

Einion Yrth said:

JustDerv said:

(think auto wipers or auto headlights!)

Why would one want either? I can tell if it's dark, and I can tell if it's raining and it's not too much effort tp flick a little switch. Pointless bloody gimmicks.

I agree about the auto wipers, they were a royal pain - wiping when it was dry and refusing to wipe when it looked like a tropical storm out there! I did like the auto lights though - but that's because I was too lazy to be bothered with 'flicking the switch'...only problem I have now is remembering to switch them off on my latest car - I keep forgetting that they don't switch themselves off now

[walm]

supermono said:

So why would Peugeot create this?

The French law is that you can park wherever you like as long as you leave your hazard lights on: hard shoulder, central reservation, the pavement, anywhere really.
Peugeot were just assuming that after a good hard braking Jean-Pierre was stopped on the curb outside the tabac about to stock up on filterless gitanes. So, to save him the bother of putting on the hazards they made them auto.

[supermono]

Einion Yrth said:

JustDerv said:

(think auto wipers or auto headlights!)

Why would one want either? I can tell if it's dark, and I can tell if it's raining and it's not too much effort tp flick a little switch. Pointless bloody gimmicks.

Oh you luddite; embrace the technology, man. I paid extra to get wipers/lights auto. They're fantastic

SM

[markcjd]

supermono said:

The eejit who designed my Peugeot 207 has fitted it with a feature where the hazard lights come on if you brake a bit hard. It's supposed to warn other road users of an emergency.

Now in the damp they seem to come on quite often during fairly routine braking, and it's a PITA. Especially if you're already dealing with negotiating a wet roundabout at speed.

So, if a policeman witnessed me crossing a roundabout with my hazard lights on, would he write me up and for what offence?

Does anyone know if it can be disabled?

SM
eta: not to mention the confusion it causes other road users trying to figure out where I'm going next!

Edited by supermono on Tuesday 16th September 11:49

IIRC this feature is activated by the EBA system. This is activated by lifting off power and hammering the brakes in quick succession.

[Einion Yrth]

markcjd said:

supermono said:

The eejit who designed my Peugeot 207 has fitted it with a feature where the hazard lights come on if you brake a bit hard. It's supposed to warn other road users of an emergency.

Now in the damp they seem to come on quite often during fairly routine braking, and it's a PITA. Especially if you're already dealing with negotiating a wet roundabout at speed.

So, if a policeman witnessed me crossing a roundabout with my hazard lights on, would he write me up and for what offence?

Does anyone know if it can be disabled?

SM
eta: not to mention the confusion it causes other road users trying to figure out where I'm going next!

Edited by supermono on Tuesday 16th September 11:49

IIRC this feature is activated by the EBA system. This is activated by lifting off power and hammering the brakes in quick succession.

So left foot braking is the answer.

[OJ]

Vaguely remember seeing some amusing footage of a C2 VTR on 5th gear banging it about Anglesey with the hazard lights flashing

[supermono]

markcjd said:

IIRC this feature is activated by the EBA system. This is activated by lifting off power and hammering the brakes in quick succession.

It seems more related to the ABS to me. Obviously as I reach my braking marker I'll come off wide open throttle and onto the brakes fairly hardish, but the hazards don't come on immediately, if during braking I encounter a bit of damp/puddle or maybe white line/cat's eye causing one or other wheel to lose traction, they'll come on. Sometimes a few seconds after closing the throttle.

They turn off shortly after I get on the throttle again mid-corner. If I come to a standstill, they stay on until I turn them off or pull away.

SM

[m4rk]

Einion Yrth said:

JustDerv said:

(think auto wipers or auto headlights!)

Why would one want either? I can tell if it's dark, and I can tell if it's raining and it's not too much effort tp flick a little switch. Pointless bloody gimmicks.

I like Auto lights. In some parts of the world you have to have day running lights and also use lights when in tunnels, of which there are many here in Austria. Auto means I can forget all about my lights as they sort themsleves out. A neat feature of my Audi is that come on when I de-activate the central locking and also stay on for a short time after the the doors are locked. Useful when parked up in dimly lit places and saves fumbling about in the dark.

Auto wipers. Have those too and they work most of the time but I am not sure if I would miss them though.

[ipsg.glf]

I remember seeing something on Tomorrows Words years (more like decades) ago. The hazards only activated if the car had a critical moment (something to do with a round like object being dislodged from its housing) and they tried to dislodge it by driving like loonies but to no avail.

[Ry_B]

An 08 courtesy Fiesta that I had did this, was just a low basic 1.2 model aswell, any time you broke from above 50 using more than a tenth of the brake pedal it came on, so every roundabout they seemed to be coming on. Stupid idea! Or at least have a switch to be able to turn them off!

[markcjd]

supermono said:

markcjd said:

IIRC this feature is activated by the EBA system. This is activated by lifting off power and hammering the brakes in quick succession.

It seems more related to the ABS to me. Obviously as I reach my braking marker I'll come off wide open throttle and onto the brakes fairly hardish, but the hazards don't come on immediately, if during braking I encounter a bit of damp/puddle or maybe white line/cat's eye causing one or other wheel to lose traction, they'll come on. Sometimes a few seconds after closing the throttle.

They turn off shortly after I get on the throttle again mid-corner. If I come to a standstill, they stay on until I turn them off or pull away.

SM

Am at home today but will check when back but i am sure it is related to EBA. this system measures the "oh st" factor by measuring the time between throttle lift off and break application at full strength.

Think, looked down to change stereo, looked up and "oh st". Heavy braking is not enough, it needs to be heavy handed (footed).