Hazard lights are one of the most misused features in modern-day automobiles. Since hazard lamps are mandatory for all kind of vehicles including two-wheelers and commercial vehicles, most people do not use them as they are supposed to. Almost all the people on the roads use hazard lamps in the wrong way and most of the car drivers do not have any idea if they are using it in a wrong way since getting a driving license in India is very easy and many people do not read the vehicle’s manual too. Have you been using the hazard lamps in the wrong way? Let’s find out.
How most people use hazard lamps?
Most people see hazard lamps as a way of attracting attention to their vehicle. People use hazard lamps during rain, fog, and even when they are driving too slow or too fast on the highways. Many people even use hazard lamps while driving at night or entering a tunnel and many others use the feature while driving on the wrong side of the road. It sure is a way to make the car more visible on the road but it is not the right way of using the hazard lamps.
How the hazard lamps should be used?
Hazard lamps are only to be used when the vehicle is parked on the roadside or any other such location on a road. It is to alert the other motorists that the car is not moving and it is a hazard for them. Use the lamps when the car breaks down on the road, you get a flat tyre, during emergency braking or simply when you want to stop on the roadside for some reason and that includes admiring the views.
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What can go wrong?
Hazard lamps give an indication that the vehicle is stationary to the other drivers. That can confuse the other motorists and can become a cause of an accident. During low visibility situations like fog and heavy rainfall, all you need to do is turn on your fog lamps and if your car does not have the lamps, you can simply turn on the low beam and make the car more visible on the roads. Suddenly turning on the hazard lamps may give an indication that the car is stopping on the roads. In fact, many cars offer the very same feature. When the driver applies the brakes aggressively while driving, the hazard lamps automatically comes on to alert the vehicles behind. Also, keeping the hazard lamps on may make the turn indicators useless. Yes, the cars from the VW Group turn off the hazards automatically when the turn indicator is used but most other cars do not have this feature. So be judicious about the hazard lamps and make sure that you use them properly to avoid accidents on the roads. In many countries, you can get a challan for using hazard lamps for any reason.
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