Why aren't Hazard buttons always lit?

[Noah930]

The fog/headlights thread got me thinking. I've noticed that the Hazard button on the dashboard of my car isn't lit at night (when I have my headlights on). Why not?

Granted, if the car dies because of certain electrical faults, the button may not be lit in time of emergency. But how often do you hit your Hazards? I can't recall exactly where the button is in the 4 or so cars I cycle between on a semi-regular basis. Particularly in the dark. And when you need your Hazards, you need 'em quick. Seems like that should be one thing you shouldn't be fumbling for in the dark.

[vash]

interesting point.

i can only find my hazard button with a microcloth..wiping the dash.

[masraum]

Aren't they usually in the middle of the dash?

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by masraum

Aren't they usually in the middle of the dash?

That's the problem: No.

In the 4 cars through which I alternate, only one of them has the Hazard button in the middle of the dash.

[Tobra]

This is not as important as having a backup camera in a two seat sports car, that is why.

[HardDrive]

I would find it irritating to have a red light constantly lit in the cabin.

[javadog]

Buy a decent car, perhaps an Audi, and you will find the buttons are lit. They are not brightly lit to the point of being distracting but you can find them.

The newer Audis can even change the interior lighting levels in many different areas independently. It sounds like a gimmick at first, but you'll find it surprisingly useful. I think other makes of cars have followed their lead.

Did I mention that the hazard button is also dead center in the dash?

Before I was fortunate enough to drive such a fine car, I had to make do with less well-designed autos. There was a time when my daily transportation was an air cooled 911. It had a fairly horrendous control layout, as most of you know. I made it a point to familiarize myself with everything, so that I could find any switch, knob or control with my eyes closed.

Some companies simply do a better job than others with interiors. I have found that Audi is pretty hard to beat over the years. BMWs used to be good too, but they are crap now.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I would find it irritating to have a red light constantly lit in the cabin.

In the Prius:
-There is a spotlight from the ceiling shining down brightly on the totally futuristic space age strait-out-of-star-trek essential patented rally shifter. Yeah! So you can power shift the CVT automatic on the fly. It illuminates the already backlit buttons.
-The wide dash occupies most of the dashboard space, separating and pushing against both occupants, and doesn't allow for any storage at all. I mean who would need quick storage space in a car anyways?
-Underneath a bright blue led illuminates your feet and dirty floor mats, in case you forgot where they were.
-It is the most useless setup I have seen in any car.

[on2wheels52]

I guess I don't find myself in many hazardous situations
I can't remember the last time that I "needed" to turn them on.
A couple of my bikes have them though.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

It is illuminated in my Mercedes SLK. I agree - should be (and it’s good practice to know where it is and be able to hit it without looking at it), same with all the controls.

[GH85Carrera]

I have used my hazard lights just a handful of times in the 20+ years of owning my two cars. The El Camino has a weird push button thingie on the steering column. The 911 is right on the dash, and I actually had to replace it shortly after I bought me 911. The little fingers of the button that hold the button in place were broken.

Neither is lighted, but both are real easy to activate.