Should You Turn on Hazard Lights When Driving in Heavy Rain?
2 Answers
Do not turn on hazard lights in heavy rain. During heavy rain, you can turn on fog lights to help other vehicles see your position without affecting the function of your turn signals. Here are the details: 1. Turn signals: Many car models share the same lighting system for hazard lights and turn signals. Once hazard lights are turned on, the turn signals become ineffective. On rain-soaked roads with already poor visibility, if the car ahead has its hazard lights on, vehicles behind may not notice the turn signals when merging or exiting highways or ramps, greatly increasing the risk of accidents. 2. Difficulty in judgment: If all vehicles turn on hazard lights, it becomes even more dangerous for those who have actually broken down and are waiting for help in the rain. The reason is simple: with poor visibility, it's hard to tell whether a vehicle with hazard lights on is stationary or moving. Thus, for vehicles with real issues, other cars turning on hazard lights pose a significant risk.
The other day when I was driving home in a heavy rainstorm, I encountered this exact issue on the highway. The rain was so heavy that I couldn’t see the car in front clearly, so I turned on the fog lights and low beams, but I didn’t dare to use the hazard lights. Why? Last time I used hazard lights while changing lanes, the car behind almost rear-ended me because the turn signals were overridden by the hazard lights, making it impossible for others to see my intention to change lanes. A mechanic once told me that hazard lights are for emergency stops, and fog lights are sufficient for regular heavy rain. Now when I encounter heavy rain, I just drive slowly, and if it’s really bad, I pull over at a rest area. Using the right lights is much safer than speeding—don’t gamble with your safety.
