What lights should be turned on for temporary parking on the roadside at night?
2 Answers
Temporary parking at night should activate the hazard warning flashers. The hazard warning flashers, commonly known as "hazard lights" or "double flashers," are signal lights used to alert other vehicles and pedestrians that the vehicle is in a special situation. Unlike other light switches that are integrated together, the hazard light switch is unique—it stands alone and is marked with a highly visible red triangle. Usage of hazard warning flashers: 1. On the road, using "double flashers" in foggy conditions: The need to use hazard lights in fog depends on the severity of the fog. If the fog is not heavy and visibility does not affect driving at the prescribed speed, then hazard lights are unnecessary. However, in heavy fog with very low visibility, hazard lights must be turned on. 2. On highways, when encountering fog, rain, snow, dust, hail, or other conditions with visibility less than 100 meters, use "double flashers": Highways may be closed under such conditions, but in case of sudden occurrences, hazard lights should be activated immediately, and vehicles should slowly exit the highway as soon as possible. It is crucial to pay attention, as failure to turn on hazard lights by even one vehicle could lead to a chain reaction of multiple rear-end collisions.
As a veteran driver who frequently takes long trips, I've experienced many instances of pulling over temporarily on the roadside at night. One winter while driving home, my car suddenly ran out of gas and stopped on the highway shoulder. I immediately turned on the hazard lights, which saved me. During nighttime when visibility is poor, hazard lights make your vehicle more noticeable by flashing both turn signals, allowing following vehicles to spot you from a safe distance. Don't just use low beams or parking lights - their steady illumination is less attention-grabbing. I've developed the habit of checking road conditions before stopping, trying to pull as close to the shoulder as possible and away from main traffic flow. For extended stops, keep the engine running for warmth and battery charging, but ensure it doesn't affect the exhaust system. Traffic regulations everywhere require hazard light use during temporary stops - it helps avoid collisions and fines. Now I always keep a reflective warning triangle in my car as an extra safety measure for greater peace of mind.
