Is It Correct to Turn on Hazard Lights During Heavy Rain?
2 Answers
Whether to turn on hazard lights during heavy rain should be determined based on the actual situation, with the judgment criteria being visibility and lighting conditions. It is not necessary to turn on hazard lights just because it is raining heavily; rather, hazard lights should be activated when visibility drops below a certain level. The purpose of hazard lights is to alert other drivers to take caution and yield, so when visibility is below 100 meters, hazard lights can be turned on. Of course, this is a rule for highways. The specific details for using hazard lights are as follows: 1. Distinguish road conditions: In fact, we need to differentiate between highways and urban road conditions. Urban road conditions usually have ideal lighting, so there is generally no issue of excessively low visibility. Even during heavy downpours, visibility is unlikely to drop below 100 meters. Therefore, when driving in the city, there is no need to turn on hazard lights unless there are special circumstances. Moreover, urban road conditions are relatively complex, and turning on hazard lights may interfere with the judgment of following vehicles regarding the movements of the vehicle ahead. Hence, under urban road conditions, hazard lights are generally unnecessary. 2. Relevant legal regulations: On highways during heavy rain, the use of hazard lights is also determined by visibility. According to Article 81 of the Road Traffic Safety Law, when a vehicle is driving on a highway and visibility is below 100 meters, it is necessary to turn on hazard lights. This is the requirement and standard for the use of hazard lights under the Road Traffic Safety Law. Therefore, if you encounter heavy rain, thick fog, or heavy snow while driving on a highway, leading to a significant reduction in visibility, hazard lights should be activated promptly. Thus, do not judge the situation solely based on whether it is raining; the core issue is visibility. When visibility is below 100 meters, hazard lights must be used.
Using hazard lights during heavy rain, I personally think it depends on the situation. Hazard lights are meant for vehicle breakdowns or emergency stops. If you turn them on randomly while driving, it might mislead other drivers into thinking you're stopping or turning, which could actually increase the risk of accidents. Once, during heavy rain on the highway, I saw someone driving with hazard lights on, and it nearly caused a rear-end collision because others couldn’t tell if they were actually stopping. Generally, when visibility is low, you should use fog lights and low beams—these are specifically designed for rainy or foggy conditions, effectively illuminating the road ahead without distracting others. However, if the rain is extremely heavy and you must stop, turning on hazard lights is absolutely the right move, as it alerts drivers behind to slow down or change lanes. The key is to know when to use them—don’t turn them on out of fear. Developing safe driving habits is more important than anything. I always check my lighting system before driving to ensure hazard lights are only used in real emergencies.
