Safety Question - Four-way flashers

[tagesk]

Over Here, it is common (and thus more or less expected) to turn on your flashes if you are not merely braking but rather stopping.
On the Autobahn, or here on the Autostrada, when you travel at 150 km/h you really want that information.
And you really, really want the guy behind you to know that you're halting.

A quick look will tell you that the vehicle behind you have the flashers on as well, and you know you're safe. Much weasier to spot that that it's speed has decreased.

[TaSK]

[SR1]

As Tagesk said, in Europe (and actually a lot of the rest of the world) it is standard practice.

I am lightning quick on the "hazard" or four way button in all my cars/bike for this reason. Drilled in habit. If you've got a Lambo/Scaglietti/SLS/M5/whatever bearing down at you at 250kph (either it's Helmut or Habibi, they all drive fast as hell) you will do anything you can to tell him there's a slow-down. Of course, I haven't put on more than 1000 miles on any kind of vehicle in the US in about 5 years...

[bboshart]

Interesting.. I did expect a favorable response to the use of hazard lights on a motorcycle forum. I received an opposite response on a car forum that I frequent. If you google the subject it would seem most opinion is that hazard lights should never be used when in motion (with the exception maybe of funeral processions and large trucks moving slow up a grade).

[tagesk]

Originally Posted by bboshart

If you google the subject it would seem most opinion is that hazard lights should never be used when in motion.

Tried to Google in German or Italian (or French, Spanish, Norwegian......) ?

[TaSK]

[roadtrip22]

Originally Posted by def

same here.

+1

[hankgs]

In So Cal with sudden slow-downs or stops ('cause there is a bend in the road or the sun is in their eyes and the road is ending!) I use the 4-ways quite a bit.

[Ceri JC]

I do this all the time; if I have any reason to believe the car behind hasn't seen the queue of stationary/very slow traffic in front, I'll put the hazards on whilst slowing. Once they have started to slow, my hazards go off again. This isn't just me doing this; it's pretty common practice in the UK [EDIT - Not just motorcyclists either; cars, lorries and vans all do it; it's particularly noticeable amongst professional drivers]. I wouldn't hesitate to do it with police present.

It signals that the traffic has stopped and helps avoid an accident, I can't see any downside to it.

[everycredit]

Originally Posted by bboshart

Interesting.. I did expect a favorable response to the use of hazard lights on a motorcycle forum. I received an opposite response on a car forum that I frequent. If you google the subject it would seem most opinion is that hazard lights should never be used when in motion (with the exception maybe of funeral processions and large trucks moving slow up a grade).

Whatever saves you from a post in the Face Plant forum, do it.

EDIT: In terms of flashers, I recall certain models of Volvos do this automatically when stopping suddenly.

[jzeiler]

Just watch out in Alabama - I have seen several volunteer FD people in private vehicles speeding with the 4 ways on. Some other divers think that turn into an emergency vehicle if they turn them on.

Now once I am almost stopped (during an unexpect abrupt stop of traffic) I press both turn signal buttons for a few seconds to give an added alert to those behind me but I already have my escape route planned when I do that. It makes me feel better.

[Toto]

Originally Posted by hankgs

In So Cal with sudden slow-downs or stops ('cause there is a bend in the road or the sun is in their eyes and the road is ending!) I use the 4-ways quite a bit.

Same here in Toronto area...I use them on a regular basis if ther is a sudden stop or big decrease in speed as I don't want to get rear ended...do the same in my car or truck.

That is what they are for...alerting other drivers of your status change.
Most large trucks use them, some other cagers use them.

IMHO, they really do give others a heads up on condition changes.

When I did my paramedic training years ago, we were taught to use the tools available to you to make yourself visible and to allert other of a change in traffic condition that might affect them and you.

P.S. did I mention changes in traffic condition?

[Duall]

It is standard practice in Europe and that's why everybody knows what to expect when they see your 4ways on, they also use 4ways for thanking someone behind you that just let you in front of them. It makes sense therefore it makes driving safer and a little more civilized.

[everycredit]

Originally Posted by Duall

It is standard practice in Europe and that's why everybody knows what to expect when they see your 4ways on, they also use 4ways for thanking someone behind you that just let you in front of them. It makes sense therefore it makes driving safer and a little more civilized.

We Americans can always use more civility.

[hankgs]

Americans still can't seem to grasp the idea that slower traffic should move to the right... In the EU, if you are "flashed" and don't move over, you may even be cited by the Po-Po!

[ignatz72]

A Kisan Signal Minder flasher replacement offers a "brake flash" function automatically which flashes the turn signals when the brake light comes on. The blink rate decays exponentially until the turn signals are on solid. Use red LED turn signal bulbs in the rear and you will be fully road legal. Since the Kisan feature is automagic, you keep your hands on the bars where they belong when in traffic.

I use a Signal Minder and a Run-n-Lites Liteblazer on my R100GS and I feel much more confident that people behind me can see me...

[DRONE]

No reason not to use your flashers to warn the traffic behind you, but as soon as another vehicle behind you pulls up and stops (or slows if that's the situation) then your message has been sent and received--time to turn them off. Otherwise you're just aggravating the hell out of me them!