Under what circumstances can hazard lights be used?
2 Answers
Here are the situations when hazard lights can be used: 1. Visibility below 100 meters: When visibility is less than 100 meters due to severe weather conditions such as heavy fog, heavy rain, or heavy snow, hazard lights should be turned on along with low beam lights and position lights to prevent traffic accidents. 2. Vehicle malfunction: If the vehicle cannot operate normally due to a malfunction or emergency and needs to stop to wait for assistance, hazard lights must be turned on. It is important to note that whenever the vehicle is stopped on the road, hazard lights should be activated. If either party involved in an accident fails to turn on hazard lights, it is considered a violation and may result in fines and penalty points. Additionally, a warning triangle should be placed behind the vehicle.
I've been driving for five years and often encounter situations where I need to use hazard lights during my daily commute in the city. The most common scenario is when the car breaks down halfway and has to stop by the roadside, such as a flat tire or a dead battery. Not turning on the hazard lights in such cases can easily lead to rear-end collisions. Once on the highway, when it was raining heavily, I turned on the hazard lights, and the car behind me slowed down from a distance, avoiding an accident. Another instance is during group road trips, where the lead car uses hazard lights to make it easier for the following cars to keep up and not get separated. When temporarily parking by the roadside to buy something, hazard lights shouldn’t actually be used—I recommend reserving them for emergencies. In severe weather conditions like heavy fog, when visibility drops below 100 meters, regulations require the use of hazard lights to alert others, which significantly improves safety. Remember, overusing hazard lights can actually make traffic more chaotic, so it's important to exercise restraint in everyday situations.
