Will I be penalized for driving with hazard lights on all the time?

[MacRosalie]

Driving with hazard lights on continuously may result in penalty points. Here's an introduction to hazard light usage: Hazard lights (double flashing lights): Indicate that the vehicle has minor operational issues preventing normal acceleration or speeding, alerting following vehicles to drive safely and yield properly. Traffic regulations: When experiencing breakdowns or accidents on highways, drivers must activate hazard warning lights, and additionally turn on width markers and tail lights at night. Width marker lights are the small front and rear lights that illuminate when the light switch is turned to the first position, indicating vehicle width. Emergency lights refer to when both side markers flash simultaneously to warn passing vehicles. Hazard lights are typically used during foggy conditions, heavy rain, vehicle malfunctions, or emergency situations.

[VanMolly]

Last time during a heavy rainstorm, I was pulled over by the traffic police for using my hazard lights, and only then did I realize: hazard warning lights really shouldn’t be used indiscriminately! There are only three legal situations: if your car breaks down in the middle of the road, if you’re being towed, or during extreme weather when visibility is poor (like in thick fog with visibility below 100 meters). Using hazard lights in other situations while driving can result in a 200-yuan fine at best, or be considered dangerous driving at worst. Especially in situations like wedding convoys where hazard lights are used while driving slowly, the turn signals are drowned out, which can easily lead to rear-end collisions. On the highway, I’ve even seen people park in the emergency lane with hazard lights on to sleep—this directly costs them 6 points on their license. When driving normally, just stick to using low beams. If you really encounter a thunderstorm with poor visibility, fog lights are much more effective than hazard lights.

[NatalieLee]

Driving instructors always yell at us: Hazard lights are not for illumination! It's indeed a violation to keep hazard lights on during daily driving, but many drivers don't understand. Last week, my friend got caught by an electronic eye for driving with hazard lights on in city traffic, resulting in a 3-point deduction and a 200-yuan fine for illegally using the emergency lane. The correct practice is to only turn them on when temporarily parked, such as when moving to the emergency lane after a tire blowout on the highway—activating hazard lights and placing a warning triangle in this situation won't incur penalties. Don't blindly trust hazard lights in rainy weather either; water reflections can make it harder for following vehicles to see—turning on fog lights and width markers is much safer. Remember, warning lights should only be activated in genuinely dangerous situations, akin to an emergency call button in the automotive world.

[SanFrank]

Tested: Drove 10km with hazard lights on and wasn't fined, but don't follow my example! Traffic regulations clearly state that hazard lights are emergency signals. Continuous use on regular roads constitutes improper use of vehicle lights, punishable by a 200 yuan fine. On highways it's stricter - using hazards in travel lanes without emergency is considered unsafe driving, and I've heard of people getting 3 points deducted. The real usefulness is during breakdowns - when my battery died on an off-ramp, using hazards while waiting for help was perfectly fine. Also, using hazards in rain is problematic - trailing cars can't tell when you're turning. For genuinely alerting following vehicles to keep distance, two quick brake taps work better than hazards.