Use of Hazards
Discussion
JenAGH67 said:
Quick question for all - What’s the situation regarding using hazards lights as a ‘thank you’ gesture, do many on here do it? I couldn’t believe that it could lead to 9 points being put on your license!
Has anyone ever heard of someone being nabbed for using their hazards as a ‘thank you’ gesture?
Never heard of it.Has anyone ever heard of someone being nabbed for using their hazards as a ‘thank you’ gesture?
The only situation where hazard lights can be legally used on a moving vehicle (other than a bus) is on a motorway or dual carriageway to warn other drivers of an obstruction. Whether anyone has ever been prosecuted for improper use I have no idea.
Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 19i89 said:
27. No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road any vehicle on which any lamp, hazard warning signal device or warning beacon of a type specified in an item in column 2 of the Table below is used in a manner specified in that item in column 3.
Hazard warning signal device
Used other than–
(i)to warn persons using the road of a temporary obstruction when the vehicle is at rest; or
(ii)on a motorway or unrestricted dual-carriageway, to warn following drivers of a need to slow down due to a temporary obstruction ahead; or
(iii)in the case of a bus, to summon assistance for the driver or any person acting as a conductor or inspector on the vehicle.
CatHazard warning signal device
Used other than–
(i)to warn persons using the road of a temporary obstruction when the vehicle is at rest; or
(ii)on a motorway or unrestricted dual-carriageway, to warn following drivers of a need to slow down due to a temporary obstruction ahead; or
(iii)in the case of a bus, to summon assistance for the driver or any person acting as a conductor or inspector on the vehicle.
I use hazards occasionally to say thanks.
Generally there are a couple of scenarios:
- at night/in the dark, in an urban environment, when a flash of lights would dazzle the recipient -- aimed at the vehicle that has pulled aside to give way allowing me to proceed
- aimed at the vehicle behind me in a queue -- most commonly the one that didn't want me to be there so is partially a mickey-take with the sub-text being 'you can't do anything about it' but by the same token, an acknowledgment of their inconvenience, which tends to pacify their mood, too, going by the commensurate diminishing of gesticulation in the rear view mirror.
Otherwise on a motorbike, I've taken to using the hazards a la Française when filtering in multi-lane traffic.
Generally there are a couple of scenarios:
- at night/in the dark, in an urban environment, when a flash of lights would dazzle the recipient -- aimed at the vehicle that has pulled aside to give way allowing me to proceed
- aimed at the vehicle behind me in a queue -- most commonly the one that didn't want me to be there so is partially a mickey-take with the sub-text being 'you can't do anything about it' but by the same token, an acknowledgment of their inconvenience, which tends to pacify their mood, too, going by the commensurate diminishing of gesticulation in the rear view mirror.
Otherwise on a motorbike, I've taken to using the hazards a la Française when filtering in multi-lane traffic.
Edited by bolidemichael on Friday 5th August 06:21
I use hazards all the time to say thank you as most cars I drive have tinted rear windows and the person behind wouldn't see it - in some instances saying thank you from the side window doesn't always work.
Don forget yo use your hazards when:
stopping on double yellows or red route to go to the cashpoint
waiting for a mate for 5 mins when parked 1 metre from the kerb, because you thought he would be ready
getting your fags/baccy/vape juice from the newsagents
parked in a taxi/drop off area outside a supermarket - adding your hazards lets people know how exceptionally important you are
Don forget yo use your hazards when:
stopping on double yellows or red route to go to the cashpoint
waiting for a mate for 5 mins when parked 1 metre from the kerb, because you thought he would be ready
getting your fags/baccy/vape juice from the newsagents
parked in a taxi/drop off area outside a supermarket - adding your hazards lets people know how exceptionally important you are
k up).It’s happened a few times, some plank parks and puts the hazards on, usually a car or truck on DYL’s, then a car parks behind them.
On approach I see a vehicle which I think is waiting to pull out as all you can see is the offside indicator, I give them a quick flash (headlights that is…), as you do, and they don’t move.
After a while the penny drops, I try to be courteous but doesn’t always help.
On approach I see a vehicle which I think is waiting to pull out as all you can see is the offside indicator, I give them a quick flash (headlights that is…), as you do, and they don’t move.
After a while the penny drops, I try to be courteous but doesn’t always help.
Draxindustries1 said:
Many use them in europe on AR's/ AP's / Bahns where traffic comes to a halt especially trucks.
I do the same. Whether its 'legal' or not doesn't matter, its a good indication to traffic behind ..
Well, yes, you're warning of the hazard of stopped traffic.I do the same. Whether its 'legal' or not doesn't matter, its a good indication to traffic behind ..
If you drive in Asian countries, they seem to have a habit of using hazards to signal that they are intending to pull to the side of the road and stop, whereas in the UK we'd normally indicate to the left for that.
Cat said:
The only situation where hazard lights can be legally used on a moving vehicle (other than a bus) is on a motorway or dual carriageway to warn other drivers of an obstruction. Whether anyone has ever been prosecuted for improper use I have no idea.
What about cars that flash the hazard lights when the emergency brake assist kicks in?Vipers said:
It’s happened a few times, some plank parks and puts the hazards on, usually a car or truck on DYL’s, then a car parks behind them.
On approach I see a vehicle which I think is waiting to pull out as all you can see is the offside indicator, I give them a quick flash (headlights that is…), as you do, and they don’t move.
After a while the penny drops, I try to be courteous but doesn’t always help.
Exactly what happened to me on my motorbike test. Only when the tester overtook us both did I stand up higher and realise that the truck actually had its hazards on while delivering from his side door. I still passed btwOn approach I see a vehicle which I think is waiting to pull out as all you can see is the offside indicator, I give them a quick flash (headlights that is…), as you do, and they don’t move.
After a while the penny drops, I try to be courteous but doesn’t always help.
I try to do the HGV driver thank you signal, a quick left signal blast followed by the right signal. Looks cool when done properly but sometimes I overdo it and it gets a bit all over the place.
I think most of us did this but with hazard warning switches being easier to access and operate lately, we got lazy.
I think most of us did this but with hazard warning switches being easier to access and operate lately, we got lazy.
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