Is It Correct to Use Hazard Lights While Driving in Heavy Rain?
1 Answers
Whether to use hazard lights in heavy rain should be judged based on the actual situation, with the criteria being visibility and lighting conditions. It is not necessary to turn on hazard lights simply because it is raining heavily. Instead, 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 avoid collisions. Therefore, when visibility is less than 100 meters, it is appropriate to turn on hazard lights. Generally, when visibility is less than 200 meters, fog lights, low beams, marker lights, and front and rear position lights should be turned on. Additionally, the speed should not exceed 60 kilometers per hour, and a distance of more than 100 meters should be maintained from the vehicle ahead in the same lane. Furthermore, hazard lights must be activated when the vehicle experiences a malfunction, is involved in a traffic accident, is towing a disabled vehicle, is temporarily parked, or is part of a convoy authorized by traffic authorities. Using hazard lights on highways can easily cause misjudgment for following vehicles, making it difficult to distinguish between stationary and moving vehicles, thereby increasing safety risks. Hazard lights are typically used in extreme heavy rain conditions with visibility below 100 meters to remind following vehicles to maintain a safe distance. When visibility drops below 50 meters, fog lights, low beams, marker lights, front and rear position lights, and hazard warning lights should be promptly activated. At the same time, the speed should not exceed 20 kilometers per hour. The safest course of action is to exit the highway and seek shelter at a service area or pull over to the emergency lane. Continuing to drive under severely impaired visibility is extremely dangerous.
