The lights in cars serve specific purposes and folks who use these lights should be conversant with what they represent, how to use them, and when to use them. The four way flashers in a car have their roles and we will be throwing more light on them in this article.
Can Four Way Flashers Be Referred To As Hazard Lights?
The answer is yes. Four way flashers can be referred to as hazard lights or emergency blinkers. The lights make it easier for other motorists to notice if something is wrong with your vehicle or if you need to come to an unexpected stop. They enhance safety on the road.
What Are Four Way Flashers?
When the hazard light buttons are pressed, four way flashers come on. Four way flashers or hazard lights are used to signal to other motorists that there has been an accident or that you have pulled over to the side of the road for any reason.
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Hazard lights are often front and rear lights that are amber in color and flash on and off to make themselves noticeable and conspicuous to other drivers on the road alongside you.
To turn on your car’s hazard lights, you often have to press a button that displays a hazard light symbol on the front of your vehicle. This button may be a standalone unit or it may be part of a larger group of buttons.
When To Use Four Way Flashers?
Here are three scenarios where four way flashers or hazard lights can be used.
- When the vehicle is disabled or stopped on a public highway, except when it is parked legally. For instance, your hazard lights must be on if you pull over to the side of the road to make a call on your mobile phone, for instance, you are required to switch on your hazard lights and not your right turn signal.
- You can turn on your hazard lights to make drivers behind you aware of any potential hazards on the roadway in front of them. Let’s say there is a deer on the road or any other obstruction that requires drivers to drive with caution.
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- You can turn them on as an indication to other drivers that our car may be a hazard to traffic. For instance, you\’ve gotten a flat tire and must drive slowly till you reach a service center.
Why Do Truck Drivers Use Four Way Flashers?
Let’s consider these scenarios based on information from Reddit. Let’s say a truck driver is going at least 15 miles per hour slower than the posted limit. In this case, he must pull over to the side of the road.
If a truck driver is driving uphill, his movement will be slow and the person behind him might be going uphill with a heavy load while traveling at a pace that’s significantly lower than the posted speed limit. This allows other cars to either change lanes or slows down to avoid any problems.
When Not To Use Four Way Flashers
Hazard lights should be used with caution and should not be abused by drivers. They should only be used when they are genuinely needed. Therefore, hazard light should not be used in the following circumstances.
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1. Your Car Is Illegally Parked
There are occasions when parking spaces are scarce and this can be frustrating for drivers.
However, the fact that one feels frustrated is not a sufficient justification for using four-way emergency flashers. You run the risk of receiving a ticket for reckless driving, and you might also make the road more hazardous for other drivers.
1. Driving During Traffic
It may be difficult to resist the urge to activate your emergency blinkers to alert other drivers of the slow-moving traffic ahead of you, but this is not an acceptable excuse.
This is because vehicles behind you won’t be able to see if you’re turning or not, and it might cause more problems than it solves.
1. You Are Getting Off Of The Highway
Do not give in to the temptation to switch on your hazard lights if you see that your car is beginning to have problems just as you are about to exit the highway. That’s why you have turn signals on your vehicle!
It is possible that turning on your hazard lights will prevent you from utilizing your turn signals, which is still another reason to avoid using them.
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Can You Drive With Hazard Lights On?
There is no general answer to this question as laws governing hazard lights in each state in the United States differ. Some states do not see it as an offense when a driver’s hazard light is on whilst driving.
However, in some states, such as Colorado and California, it is only legal to turn on your hazard lights while driving if “the vehicle speed is less than 25 miles per hour” or “to identify a traffic hazard.” In other states, turning on your hazard lights while driving is never permitted.
Is It Okay To Go Fast With Your Flashers On?
Although you can drive with your hazards on, it is never appropriate to go over the posted speed limit. It is a no-brainer that breaking the speed limit is never okay, regardless of whether or not you believe you have a good reason for doing so.
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Conclusion
We’ve thrown some light on what Four Way Flashers are in this article and also pointed out the fact that they can be referred to as Hazard Lights.
We’ve pointed out the lawful usage of this part of your car and when it should be used and when it should not be used. Do well to take advantage of the information in this article and leverage it.