Hazards on during heavy rain/snow/low visibility....what say you?

[Just a civilian pilot]

People cannot safely drive on ice without ” special equipment” is incorrect.

I drive a basic Honda Civic ( not AWD, no studded tires ) and drive on ice covered roads a lot and have never had an accident or even got stuck ( so far ).

Freezing rain, lots of it.

Studded tires are illegal where I live.

I drive far more than the average driver.

Gone through 3 jugs of windshield washer fluid at times.

I am out in the Highway before the roads are chemically treated or plowed often ( 03:00 am ).

I see lots of “ special equipment” ( and drivers ) in the ditch.

Only thing special I own are top of the line winter tires ( yes, heard all the winter tire stuff but I use Bridgestone WS 90 Blizzaks…..great tire ).

 

[FT92]

doesn't seem to matter much to most drivers around here, it's hammer down whether rain snow fog hurricane tornado whatever... I guess the thinking must be if I make it to my destination all is good. if not, I'll deal with it if i crash

 

[jeepman3071]

It's fine and all, until you see a vehicle going 50 miles an hour down the left lane of the interstate with its flashers on, in a rain storm... with everyone else passing it in the right lane.

Not sure if it is a lack of driving skill, a complete lack of awareness... or both.

Yeah this is really the only situation I have issue with flasher use. When it's used more as a "look out for me" type of thing while that person continues doing whatever negligent behavior they are doing while driving. Usually it's someone doing 80 mph in the left lane with a barely tied down mattress on their car, but hey, at least they put their flashers on.

 

[Astro14]

You proved my point. No one can drive on ice without special equipment, you shouldn't have been on the road and you knew it.

Nah. You’re trying to make a specious point, which doesn’t really apply because we have all encountered unexpected meteorological conditions, particularly in the days before cell phones and internet, when my weather assessment was reading a thermometer and looking out the window.

In this case: the road was slick with icy precipitation. Growing up in Vermont, we get those conditions all the time. It happens.

I was prepared and I was driving under control.

Four actual winter tires on the car. That’s what winter tires are for. Wintry conditions.

So, I was prepared with the right tires, and a lot of experience, and when I detected the hazard (icy conditions), I slowed to an appropriate speed. At that speed, I alerted others to the hazard, and my greatly reduced speed, by use of the hazards.

Their loss of control clearly proves they were unprepared - they are the ones who shouldn’t have been on the road. I stopped to see if folks were OK, then got off at the next exit.

When the road conditions change, you can’t instantly remove yourself from the roads, particularly on an interstate. Sometimes, you have to drive in those conditions until it’s safe to get off, or conditions change again.

 

[UG_Passat]

People cannot safely drive on ice without ” special equipment” is incorrect.

I drive a basic Honda Civic ( not AWD, no studded tires ) and drive on ice covered roads a lot and have never had an accident or even got stuck ( so far ).

Freezing rain, lots of it.

Studded tires are illegal where I live.

I drive far more than the average driver.

Gone through 3 jugs of windshield washer fluid at times.

I am out in the Highway before the roads are chemically treated or plowed often ( 03:00 am ).

I see lots of “ special equipment” ( and drivers ) in the ditch.

Only thing special I own are top of the line winter tires ( yes, heard all the winter tire stuff but I use Bridgestone WS 90 Blizzaks…..great tire ).

That's special equipment compared to what most Americans use, as they feel All-seasons are appropriate for All-seasons, otherwise they wouldn't be called All-season tires.

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

That’s what the rear fog light is for.

Around here I think 90% of people who have their rear fog light on do not even know it's on, or know what it is.

As for the OP's question, people doing this is not right. Sometimes people do things that they feel is "safer" but when it is not part of normal procedures it confuses other drivers and actually makes things more dangerous.

Really the only time I will flash my hazards while moving is if there is really hard braking on the freeway and people are coming up behind me. Even then it's only for a few seconds.

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

Nah. You’re trying to make a specious point, which doesn’t really apply because we have all encountered unexpected meteorological conditions, particularly in the days before cell phones and internet, when my weather assessment was reading a thermometer and looking out the window.

In this case: the road was slick with icy precipitation. Growing up in Vermont, we get those conditions all the time. It happens.

I was prepared and I was driving under control.

Four actual winter tires on the car. That’s what winter tires are for. Wintry conditions.

So, I was prepared with the right tires, and a lot of experience, and when I detected the hazard (icy conditions), I slowed to an appropriate speed. At that speed, I alerted others to the hazard, and my greatly reduced speed, by use of the hazards.

Their loss of control clearly proves they were unprepared - they are the ones who shouldn’t have been on the road. I stopped to see if folks were OK, then got off at the next exit.

When the road conditions change, you can’t instantly remove yourself from the roads, particularly on an interstate. Sometimes, you have to drive in those conditions until it’s safe to get off, or conditions change again.

Exactly.

Vermont drivers deal with bad winter weather, and driving conditions.

Throw in mountains and it’s even more challenging ( something I never have to deal with ).

 

[TiGeo]

What traffic hazard? Don't think people feeling like they shouldn't be driving is the intent of the law. A "traffic hazard" means a wreck/blockage, otherwise, if you can't drive in the rain then pull off the road. Once you're on the side of the road THEN turn your hazards on.

Sudden slowing of the normal traffic flow/limited vis. This has nothing to do with "can't or don't feel like drive in the rain" - that's an odd response. I saw nobody having issues driving in this storm last night...they just needed to go <50% of the posted limit.

 

[TiGeo]

Around here I think 90% of people who have their rear fog light on do not even know it's on, or know what it is.

As for the OP's question, people doing this is not right. Sometimes people do things that they feel is "safer" but when it is not part of normal procedures it confuses other drivers and actually makes things more dangerous.

Really the only time I will flash my hazards while moving is if there is really hard braking on the freeway and people are coming up behind me. Even then it's only for a few seconds.

How can that confuse other drivers? You are moving at 30mph in a 60 and can't see more than 100 ft ahead and cars have their blinkers on so you can actually see them is more dangerous? Does a car with a donut going 45 in a 65 with the hazards on in the right lane confuse you?

 

[TiGeo]

Yeah this is really the only situation I have issue with flasher use. When it's used more as a "look out for me" type of thing while that person continues doing whatever negligent behavior they are doing while driving. Usually it's someone doing 80 mph in the left lane with a barely tied down mattress on their car, but hey, at least they put their flashers on.

And this is not the point of this poist/outside the issue at hand. Clearly that is an issue where they should be in teh right lane going slow and sure for that reason, run your blinkers.

 

[TiGeo]

Also in before winter tires come into convo...opps....too late!

 

[TiGeo]

Everyone was going significantly slower than normal, sooo that was the new normal. No hazard existed.

Doesn't matter to me, I appreciate when people use them because it lets me know they are a person who I need to watch out for because they know they shouldn't be on the road at that time.

Yes, the hazard most certainly does exist if you are behind the storm/moving into this and doing 65 and all of a sudden you can't see far enough ahead.

Why do you think being more visible has anything to do with someone's driving abilities?

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

How can that confuse other drivers? You are moving at 30mph in a 60 and can't see more than 100 ft ahead and cars have their blinkers on so you can actually see them is more dangerous? Does a car with a donut going 45 in a 65 with the hazards on in the right lane confuse you?

If someone is going half the speed of traffic flow for whatever reason, they should probably put the hazards on. If they're going the same speed as traffic, and everyone is going slow because of weather, don't... Because in the former situation, they are a hazard, but in the latter, they aren't.

That's my thought on it.

 

[TiGeo]

In general I'm a "hazards" hater. What Tigeo describes is, IMO the correct use of hazards. Far to many operators throw hazards on for reasons that certainly appear to be indiscriminate use. That IMO causes more negative than ay positive it may be seeking to put forth.

This post was about folks using them correctly...at least that was the inent. Last night was pefectly fine to use hazards. I've never really seen indiscriminate use or had this be an issue...almost always in the case like I desribed...heading into a storm, visilibilty drops suddenly/dangerously, folks slow, hit the blinkers. I see no issue. Why do folks that that is a bad way to go?

 

[TiGeo]

If someone is going half the speed of traffic flow for whatever reason, they should probably put the hazards on. If they're going the same speed as traffic, and everyone is going slow because of weather, don't... Because in the former situation, they are a hazard, but in the latter, they aren't.

That's my thought on it.

I am talking about the correct use case you describe. Not going 65 wiht your hazards on b/c you feel like it or it's a light rain storm where you have good vis and it's safe to go the speed limit etc.

 

[BISCUT]

What negative are you talking about? If the conditions aren’t really that bad you simply pass them and you don’t see the hazards anymore. What’s the problem?

I'm not interested in the debate with you...seem a little cranky. My lens and experience in my geographical area apparently don't dovetail with yours. So be it.

 

[Pew]

This post was about folks using them correctly...at least that was the inent. Last night was pefectly fine to use hazards. I've never really seen indiscriminate use or had this be an issue...almost always in the case like I desribed...heading into a storm, visilibilty drops suddenly/dangerously, folks slow, hit the blinkers. I see no issue. Why do folks that that is a bad way to go?

Because BITOG folks think they're always the best driver and to them, using hazards is wrong when there's a hazard.

 

[TiGeo]

Because BITOG folks think they're always the best driver and to them, using hazards is wrong when there's a hazard.

 

[sk_pete]

I sometimes turn my hazards on when traffic comes to a sudden stop on the Interstate highway, depends on what's in my rear view mirror.

not only on highway.
i do not want my rear look like accordion

 

[TiGeo]

not only on highway.
i do not want my rear look like accordion

Precisely.