Hazard Lights on Moving Vehicles

[SYZ]

I note that reading a review of the Chinese made Haval H9 (which sounds more like a Lebanese desert) that "there are also curiosities, such as the hazard light flashers that kick in under heavy braking. It's a common safety addition to modern cars".

Is it in fact an addition to modern cars? I've never heard of this function for hazard lights.

The Victorian road regulations—ROAD SAFETY ROAD RULES 2009 - REG 221(a) says, "The driver of a vehicle fitted with hazard warning lights must not use the hazard warning lights, or allow them to be used, unless the vehicle is stopped and is obstructing, or is likely to obstruct, the path of other vehicles or pedestrians".

What's the real story? Hazard lights okay when moving or not?

[Smoke Pursuit]

Pretty sure many cars do this. I know my Mb Mondeo did it and my VF Calais does too.

[NorfyXR6]

Not sure about the law but I was taught by my instructor..."use your hazard lights whenever you are a hazard"

[BFGasUte]

Hi,

Victoria has some strange rules, there used to be signs around Wagga going back some years saying to use them in Fog.

[Matty4]

Originally Posted by BFGasUte

Hi,

Victoria has some strange rules, there used to be signs around Wagga going back some years saying to use them in Fog.

Wagga's not in Victoria.......

[Ross 1]

Newer Mercedes will strobe the brake lights in heavy braking and if it happens at over a set speed, 70-80k ?, the hazard lights also start.

[BFGasUte]

Originally Posted by Matty4

Wagga's not in Victoria.......

Hello,

Thanks for the Geography lesson. I was making reference to " Hook " turns and the fact that I had seen signs in NSW near Wagga before.

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by BFGasUte

Hello,

Thanks for the Geography lesson. I was making reference to " Hook " turns and the fact that I had seen signs in NSW near Wagga before.

There's no "hook" turns in Wagga?... Even when it's foggy!

[Sabantien]

Originally Posted by BFGasUte

Hi,

Victoria has some strange rules, there used to be signs around Wagga going back some years saying to use them in Fog.

Couple years ago we were driving from Sydney to Brisbane, due to flooding we had to go the inland route.

Saw the same signs, and it happened to be foggy. I tell you what, it made it much easier to spot the car in front.

Definitely a good time for them to be on when the vehicle is moving.

Can't say i've ever noticed them come on on other cars while driving, other than a quick thank you flash.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by NorfyXR6

Not sure about the law but I was taught by my instructor..."use your hazard lights whenever you are a hazard"

If people followed that teaching, most cars on our roads these days would have their hazards lights on permanently

Originally Posted by TheInterceptor

Most cars hit hazards to alert those behind to get on the brakes as the traffic is stopped or near stop ahead.

Isn't that what brake lights are for? You brake, they come on, you release the brakes and off they go. If you're driving an auto or a manual on an incline then you most likely will use your brakes whilst stationary too.

[whitelion65]

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

If people followed that teaching, most cars on our roads these days would have their hazards lights on permanently




Isn't that what brake lights are for? You brake, they come on, you release the brakes and off they go. If you're driving an auto or a manual on an incline then you most likely will use your brakes whilst stationary too.

The difference is in the severity of the braking. The hazard lights only come on when you do a VERY heavy braking application. This helps differentiate someone using the brakes to wash off some speed, and someone who is about to run into something.

[TheInterceptor]

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

Isn't that what brake lights are for? You brake, they come on, you release the brakes and off they go. If you're driving an auto or a manual on an incline then you most likely will use your brakes whilst stationary too.

Yes. Thats what theyre there for. The point that was totally missed was the hazards are used as an extra alert for severe braking. Like coming to a halt from cruise speed very quickly.

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by TheInterceptor

Yes. Thats what theyre there for. The point that was totally missed was the hazards are used as an extra alert for severe braking. Like coming to a halt from cruise speed very quickly.

Volvo activates flashing brake lights if ABS activated or braking heavily at speeds above 50km/h. Hazard lights come on if the car has slowed down to less than 10km/h . Hazard lights turn off if car then accelerates to above 20km/h or you can switch them off manually.
This is probably better application of modern control systems as mixing hazard lights with braking lights might be confusing for some.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by TheInterceptor

Yes. Thats what theyre there for. The point that was totally missed was the hazards are used as an extra alert for severe braking. Like coming to a halt from cruise speed very quickly.

Oh, I totally understood your point. I didn't miss it at all. I just don't agree with it!

My point was that, IMHO, brake lights should be used for indication of when a car is braking (as that is what they were designed for, surprise, surprise) and hazard lights should be reserved for indication of a hazard that is beyond other functions already provided in the car.

And if someone is driving appropriate to the conditions, then a normal brake light, even in extremely heavy braking conditions, should still suffice without the need for hazard lights, as they will be able to see both the brake lights and the car in sufficient time to be able to react appropriately.

I tend to agree with others here that perhaps a strobed or staged brake light would be a better way to go at indicating extremely heavy braking than using the hazard lights.

[Cav]

Hazard warning lights

Your vehicle’s hazard warning lights must not be used unless the vehicle is:

Stopped and obstructing the path of other vehicles or pedestrians
Slow-moving and obstructing other road users
Stopped in an emergency stopping lane
Stopped to sell a product such as food and refreshment
Driving in hazardous weather conditions
Fitted with hazard lights as part of an anti-theft or alcohol interlock device.

http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/safe...and-horns.html

[TheInterceptor]

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

Oh, I totally understood your point. I didn't miss it at all. I just don't agree with it!

My point was that, IMHO, brake lights should be used for indication of when a car is braking (as that is what they were designed for, surprise, surprise) and hazard lights should be reserved for indication of a hazard that is beyond other functions already provided in the car.

And if someone is driving appropriate to the conditions, then a normal brake light, even in extremely heavy braking conditions, should still suffice without the need for hazard lights, as they will be able to see both the brake lights and the car in sufficient time to be able to react appropriately.

I tend to agree with others here that perhaps a strobed or staged brake light would be a better way to go at indicating extremely heavy braking than using the hazard lights.

Ah all good sir i understand. And i do agree. None of my cars have a rear fog or some kind of strobe setting. The subaru has the provision for a rear fog but its missing half the loom from being an Aus delivered car. However theres a few models out that have it and it gets left on for no reason and gets annoying.

I find people (at least here in Perth) follow way too close (everyone is in a rush) and hitting brakes hard usually see's cars squirming everywhere and some near misses.

Last night there was an unusual burst of torrential rain. Traffic on the 90kph reid highway slammed brakes to 50 as soon as it hit. Totally unexpected and damn dangeroous but thats why you keep a distance haha. Hazard would just make the cars easier to see and maybe make you be more defensive on approach.

Personally prefer to keep my distance. And i dont like how euro standards keep creeping into Aus...

[Davehoos]

It was part of the truck liecence to use when reversing.

some parts of NSW they use hazards in rain or fog. that confuses the rest of NSW during school holidays. southern thing.

we are not allowed to use hazard lights moving slow moving vehicles around as they have to use flashing amber beacons.

my boss was once chipped for using hazards as he was required to have an authority to cause the hazard-in order to use them.

[ford71V8]

Originally Posted by NorfyXR6

Not sure about the law but I was taught by my instructor..."use your hazard lights whenever you are a hazard"

There's quite a few out there that would have them on permanently

[TheInterceptor]

I beleive it comes from europe. I remember as a kid when we visited europe and rented a car, traffic flow would be flying along (especially on autobahn Germany) then all of a sudden you'd hit traffic. Most cars hit hazards to alert those behind to get on the brakes as the traffic is stopped or near stop ahead.

I use hazards in braking situations similar, but now i use an EA as a daily i try keep back from cars ahead so doesnt it happen as much anymore. I do use it in emergency braking in convoy on dirt as its quicker than going for the UHF.

[Cav]

Use hazard lights in fog is OK in NSW

[Magna]

apparently so does the FGII

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11418477

[Charliewool]

Years ago traveling down to Barry's Beach (Gippsland way) I pulled over to check the Melways map and put hazards on. After establishing that I was on the right track, I took off again, unknowingly leaving hazards going.
4 or 5ks down the road I was pulled over by HWP and booked for "driving with hazards operating" So it IS illegal (In Vic, anyhow)

[mike_nofx]

They probably activate with the abs.

[Tokyo Geoff]

Everyone does it in Japan and I found it quite useful. I think people have become a little complacent and so many cars have excellent brakes now that rear enders seem more common. I've been moving quite quickly on the M2, strange as that may seem, and had to come to a quick stop for no apparent reason (standing wave feature I suppose) and I've put the hazards on briefly to alert the peeps behind. I like it.
Geoff

[FPV+fteT3]

The Lotus has a setting that flashes the centre brake light 5 times before going solid when braking its a good feature it can be turned off so centre brake light operates as normal. The flashing centre light gets the following cars attention its a good idea IMO.

[baboon]

Useless here speeds are too slow on hwys

[glimmerman]

My work van is a VW caddy and under hard braking it turned the hazards on automatically

Sent from my Blade S6 using Tapatalk

[Brazen]

I hit the hazards if I see something potentially dangerous on the road to warn the cars behind me, usually a roo or a goat

[.:4:.]

In euro cars like the current ford transit, if you hit the anchors hard enough, the thing will take it as an emergency stop and turn the hazards on automatically . Driving in fog you need to turn them on yourself, which is not a bad practice if you don't have rear fog lights.

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by SYZ

I note that reading a review of the Chinese made Haval H9 (which sounds more like a Lebanese desert) that "there are also curiosities, such as the hazard light flashers that kick in under heavy braking. It's a common safety addition to modern cars".

Is it in fact an addition to modern cars? I've never heard of this function for hazard lights.

The Victorian road regulations—ROAD SAFETY ROAD RULES 2009 - REG 221(a) says, "The driver of a vehicle fitted with hazard warning lights must not use the hazard warning lights, or allow them to be used, unless the vehicle is stopped and is obstructing, or is likely to obstruct, the path of other vehicles or pedestrians".

What's the real story? Hazard lights okay when moving or not?

Another possibility is that Haval has got some loose wiring in the indicator circuit ;-)