Under what circumstances should hazard lights be used?

[JaydenLee]

Hazard lights are warning signals that alert surrounding vehicles to keep their distance. There are four situations when hazard lights should be activated: 1. When the vehicle breaks down and is parked: During daily driving, if the vehicle unexpectedly malfunctions and cannot be moved to a safe area promptly, the hazard lights should be turned on immediately to warn pedestrians and passing vehicles for safety. 2. When making a temporary stop: Hazard lights should also be used when pulling over temporarily on the roadside to alert drivers behind. 3. In adverse weather conditions such as heavy fog or heavy rain: Hazard lights must be turned on when visibility falls below the required limit. Additionally, after activating the hazard lights, maintain a safe following distance from the vehicle ahead to prevent accidents. 4. When towing a malfunctioning vehicle: If a vehicle breaks down during operation and requires towing by a tow truck, the hazard lights must be turned on to alert vehicles behind.

[DelNora]

I saw news a couple of days ago saying hazard lights shouldn’t be used casually, so I specifically checked the regulations. If a vehicle breaks down on the road, you must immediately turn on the hazard lights and place a warning triangle to prevent rear-end collisions. During typhoons, heavy rain, or thick fog when visibility drops below 100 meters, hazard lights should also be activated—but remember to slow down to under 40 km/h. Once on the highway, I saw over a dozen cars with hazard lights on, only to find out it was a legally registered wedding convoy—they had prior approval to drive like that. When towing a broken-down vehicle, both cars must use hazard lights; otherwise, the tow rope becomes nearly invisible to trailing traffic. Here’s a lesser-known fact: changing lanes with hazard lights on is especially dangerous because it overrides the turn signal.

[Camila]

Novice drivers often get confused about the use of hazard lights. I learned the hard way: once I parked temporarily by the roadside to buy water without turning on the hazard lights and got a ticket. Traffic laws require hazard lights to be turned on when temporarily parking in a way that obstructs traffic, such as picking up/dropping off passengers or unloading goods. Funeral processions should use hazard lights, but ordinary family cars driving in a group should not turn them on casually. When yielding to emergency vehicles like ambulances or fire trucks, hazard lights can be briefly activated as a signal. It’s highly recommended to check your vehicle’s manual—some cars automatically activate hazard lights during hard braking, and those with modified lights should be extra careful not to violate regulations.

[KimberlyAnn]

A veteran driver with ten years of transportation experience once taught me: hazard lights are life-saving lights. If your vehicle breaks down suddenly and stops in a traffic lane, you must turn them on immediately, and at night, they should be used in conjunction with warning triangles. Vehicles transporting hazardous materials will face heavy fines if they fail to activate hazard lights during emergencies. When visibility drops sharply on highways, hazard lights are more noticeable than fog lights alone. However, don’t overuse hazard lights in rainy weather, as it can confuse other drivers. Remember, if you need to change lanes after turning on hazard lights, turn them off first and use the turn signal—otherwise, the car behind won’t know your intention.

[JulianaLee]

During the driving test, the instructor repeatedly emphasized three scenarios for using hazard lights: first, when the vehicle is involved in an accident and cannot move; second, in extreme weather conditions, such as thick fog where the outline of the car ahead is unclear; and finally, for special convoys like funeral processions or forest firefighting teams. Many car owners are unaware that both vehicles must turn on hazard lights when towing. Last year, when my car broke down and was towed, the traffic police specifically checked this. Another detail: hazard lights override turn signals, so remember to turn them off before changing lanes.

[MadelynLynn]

At a car club rescue training session, I learned some practical tips: If a tire blows out on the highway, the first step after stopping on the emergency lane is to turn on the hazard lights, and the driver must move outside the guardrail. In heavy fog, hazard lights are more effective than fog lights, but note that new traffic regulations require visibility below 100 meters and speed under 40 km/h to use them. Wedding convoys need to apply for route registration in advance to use hazard lights; forming groups and using them randomly can result in fines. When encountering special vehicles on duty, briefly turning on hazard lights to signal yielding is considered polite.