Driving in the rain with your hazard lights on...

[A930Rocket]

When did it become normal or law to turn your hazards on in the rain? Headlights yes. I drove from Bluffton back to Charleston yesterday in some heavy rain and 50% or more of cars had their hazards on while going 30-35 on a 55-60 MPH highway. Cars were all bunched up and it was a cluster ****.

Was I wrong to drive with only my lights on and the speed limit?

[wildthing]

Lights only. Hazard if there is, in fact, a hazard up ahead, or they are slower than traffic.

As for speed... here in CA the general rule is "safe speed based on current conditions." If it's safe to go the speed limit, go for it.

[flatbutt]

If on the bike in the rain I run the 4 ways.

[stevej37]

The law here in MI is...if it is raining enough to have the wipers on...the headlights must also be on.
The speed limit is adjusted according to conditions.

[masraum]

If it's raining so hard that you'r going 30-35 on an interstate where the speed limit is 55-75, then you should probably have your hazards on OR pull off and stop and wait for the rain to get better.

But I see a lot of numbnuts running their hazards when they are going the speed limit (or over) in the rain or if there are 4-5 of them following each other, they'll run their flashers so they don't lose each other.

[Zeke]

Hazards are not for driving. Under any circumstances. Read the driver's handbook.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Hazards are not for driving. Under any circumstances. Read the driver's handbook.

THat depends upon where you live. In FL it's illegal. In Texas it's not actually illegal.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by masraum

THat depends upon where you live. In FL it's illegal. In Texas it's not actually illegal.

It actually becomes legal in FL in just a few days... joining 40 other states.

Doesn't mean it's smart tho....

[pwd72s]

And to complicate things even more, some cars automatically turn on the driving (daytime running lights) hazards when the outside light dims.

[Ctopher]

Originally Posted by masraum

If it's raining so hard that you'r going 30-35 on an interstate where the speed limit is 55-75, then you should probably have your hazards on OR pull off and stop and wait for the rain to get better.

But I see a lot of numbnuts running their hazards when they are going the speed limit (or over) in the rain or if there are 4-5 of them following each other, they'll run their flashers so they don't lose each other.

These are probably the same idiots that like to drive in rain and fog with no lights or parking lights! But they are safe because they have daytime running lights. The idiots are everywhere.


CTophers

[masraum]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

And to complicate things even more, some cars automatically turn on the driving (daytime running lights) hazards when the outside light dims.

I'd consider those parking lights.

In an older car, pull the headlight switch one click. Then the front and rear parking lights turn on without flashing.

Modern cars, often run the daytime running lights all of the time (not just when it gets dark). I think some cars only run lights in the front of the car. In the city, I often see people driving around late at night with just those dim front lights and no rear lights. I'm not sure if they just don't realize because the streetlights have everything so lit up or they are just clueless.

Hazards are different. Hazards flash (essentially flashing all of the turn signals simultaneously).

Most of the time but not always, the parking lights and hazards are 2 different elements in the same bulbs.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Ctopher

These are probably the same idiots that like to drive in rain and fog with no lights or parking lights! But they are safe because they have daytime running lights. The idiots are everywhere.


CTophers

Absolutely!

[red-beard]

It was my understanding that if you are on an Interstate and under 45 MPH, you need your hazards on. If it is raining hard enough to be slowed to 45 or lower, then I would suggest putting the hazards on.

Of course, this might have been law where I learned to drive, New York State.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Hazards are not for driving. Under any circumstances. Read the driver's handbook.

I use the hazards when towing another car with a strap....I really don't want to get rear-ended by impatient, distracted jerks.

[wildthing]

I use hazard lights if I'm on a convoy, usually going slower than other cars and on the rightmost lane. At least they know I'm way below the speed limit.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by red-beard

If it is raining hard enough to be slowed to 45 or lower, then I would suggest putting the hazards on.

A blinking amber light has got to be a better attention grabber in heavy rain or fog for a car coming up behind you than just having your park lights or tail lights on. And we all know there are plenty idiots who are willing to overdrive their available visibility.

I don't know the law on this here, but I'll put the hazards on under these conditions and gladly take a citation... here or in any other state... common sense says it's much safer.

[Coverman]

In the UK if visibility is restricted due to must, rain ,fog, snow etc the high intensity rear fog light(s) have to be deployed . It would be illegal to use hazard lights under those circumstances. People use hazard lights on the last in a queue of vehicles rapidly braking to a halt on a motorway

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Coverman

People use hazard lights on the last in a queue of vehicles rapidly braking to a halt on a motorway

If visibility is severely limited, how does one know HE is last in that queue?

Think about it.

I'll stick to my guns... if visibility is extremely limited, I'm turning the hazards on.

[KevinTodd]

Doing this in heavy rain is the stupidest habit I have ever seen, and dangerous to everyone else on the road. Increases glare and creates distractions for traffic moving at a normal pace. There's a reason it is illegal in most places.

If you cannot drive in the rain, please just do the rest of us a favor and get off of the highway.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by KevinTodd

Doing this in heavy rain is the stupidest habit I have ever seen, and dangerous to everyone else on the road. Increases glare and creates distractions for traffic moving at a normal pace. There's a reason it is illegal in most places.

If you cannot drive in the rain, please just do the rest of us a favor and get off of the highway.

It's NOT illegal in most places. It will soon be 41 states that allow it. I have done it just a couple of times when traffic is flowing 30 mph below the speed limit in extreme snowy/icey conditions on the hwy. That type of weather is rare here, and there is ALWAYS some idiot in a 4x4 that thinks 65-70 is still OK. I just use common sense.