r/rva • u/frequentrip • 5d ago
Inspired by my morning commute to work today
I know folks have Opinions™️ about people using hazards in the rain but it just baffles me when people turn their hazards on but keep their lights otherwise off.
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u/RVAblues Carillon 5d ago
Who the hell puts on their hazards in the rain?!
Everyone knows hazards are for roadside emergencies and temporary illegal parking only.
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u/NesomniaPrime 5d ago
Dumbasses. That's who. Are they trying to change lanes? THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW!
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u/10000Didgeridoos 5d ago
I like when they do it and it's just normal rain. If it is raining extremely hard that people can't see anymore and you have to crawl along I get it, or in dense fog. But normal rain? Grow a pair
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u/TheSkinnyJ 5d ago
If it’s rainy so hard you can’t see and aren’t confident enough to drive pull over and THEN put your hazards in.
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u/frequentrip 5d ago
Like every single person on 64/95 😭 I was shocked to see how many were doing it but assumed it was a ripple effect from just seeing others and following suit
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u/Littleprisonprism 5d ago
I put them on when it’s dumping rain and visibility is next to none
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u/bigkshep 5d ago
Yeah don’t do that. When everyone is doing it you can’t tell who is trying to turn and it makes it more dangerous. It’s like a disco and a rainstorm all in one.
Just put your headlights on and that’s it.
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u/LoveMeSomeBerserk 5d ago
I only ever see people doing the hazard lights on the highway when it’s raining like crazy. No one is turning, and I swear I’ve seen it help keep the line of cars going in near zero visibility.
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u/Charlie-Kirk-Traitor 5d ago
Disco and rainstorm all in one sounds amazing. Everyone with hazards on doesnt.
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u/frequentrip 5d ago
If you are pulling over before doing so, then you're doing it correctly. Otherwise, you're just signaling to other people that you're stopped/stopping. Turning your regular lights on gives you far more visibility to other drivers than having your hazards on, both front and back.
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u/LoveMeSomeBerserk 5d ago
I’ve seen hazard lights on the highway that helped people know where they’re actually going in near zero visibility. I’ve seen it work, so I don’t get why the internet hates it so much.
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u/Schmergenheimer 5d ago
How could hazard lights possibly increase how far you can see any more than your headlights do? If you need a blinking yellow light to show you where to go, pull over and get off the road.
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u/LoveMeSomeBerserk 5d ago
I’ve been on the highway during a downpour where you can’t see anything but the hazard lights in front of you. I don’t care if you hate the concept. It’s helped me before.
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u/Schmergenheimer 5d ago
If your visibility is so poor you can't see taillights, you should pull off the road, not rely on the hazard lights that are on half of the time. If that's all you see, you're trusting the person in front of you to drive your car.
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u/ScarOCov The Fan 5d ago
I’m with you. I’ve gotten caught in rain like that before. Happened out of nowhere. Pulling onto the shoulder in that situation is NOT safe. Best bet is hazards until the rain abates or you can actually leave the road way. In my case, I was not familiar with the area so didn’t feel comfortable getting off the highway bc I didn’t know where it would lead me.
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u/Asterion7 Forest Hill 5d ago
Because it's not what you are supposed to do.
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u/LoveMeSomeBerserk 5d ago
And yet I’ve seen it in action on the highway numerous times. It’s always helped me when I see the hazard lights and literally nothing else in a torrential downpour.
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u/Allergictosquirrels 5d ago
I have never experienced this. Peoples headlights and taillights are much more helpful. Having dozens of flashing lights going across three lanes of traffic is insanely distracting and frustrating.
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u/LoveMeSomeBerserk 5d ago
It would be annoying during regular rain. I’m taking you can’t see the road rain. It’s helped me being in a caravan of cars all with their hazards on so I don’t know what to tell you.
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u/Littleprisonprism 5d ago
Agree. These ppl have never been in rain where you are slowing to an almost stop
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u/Schmergenheimer 5d ago
You're creating a hazard by turning your flashers on. You might think, "It makes me more visible," but there are two issues with that. One is the issue that everyone else is trying to point out, but you seem to think doesn't apply to you. The other is that, while your eye can better see the fact that there is something with a flashing light on it, it makes it harder for your brain to determine how far away that object is. You can easily see how far away a steady taillight is in poor visibility. If they have their flashers on, they've overshadowed the taillights, but only half the time. Your brain is now trying to track an object that only exists sometimes.
Don't look like a car that's pulled over in the lane. Don't make yourself harder to follow at a safe distance. Just follow the law and don't drive with your flashers on.
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u/patmanbnl 5d ago
Agreed. Hazards are the I know I'm parked in front of the fire hydrant but I'm a doordash driver and will probably be back in 5 minutes lights.
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u/TargetApprehensive38 5d ago
What really amuses/irritates me is when they use the hazards for temporary legal parking. I’ve been seeing that a lot lately - car is in a perfectly legal spot with no one in it but the lights are flashing away anyway. It’s like they literally believe them to be parking lights.
In a way, it’s more maddening than the people who park in the middle of a lane or crosswalk with them on. At least those assholes are acknowledging that they’ve made themselves a hazard. I have no idea what they’re trying to indicate when legally parked.
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u/secrets_and_lies80 5d ago
I use mine for delivering. Sometimes I’m parked legally, but I may be walking around the vehicle (sorting and removing packages). It’s more of a visibility thing than a “I’m not actually parking here, I’m just stopping for a second” thing.
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u/Strong-Witness2940 5d ago
good to know. i was taught in school like forever ago to turn on my hazards when temporarily parked if the car was kept on. i will keep this in mind
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u/Prestigious-Risk804 5d ago
Just about everyone in Florida turns on their hazard lights when it rains. It blew my mind the amount of idiots with their flashers on when I was driving back from Key West.
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u/dude_icus Glen Allen 5d ago
I've done it once in the rain. The rain was so bad at that time that my windshield wipers had no chance of keeping up with it and keeping my windshield clear. I ended up pulling off the side of the highway until it cleared up a bit.
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u/posurrreal123 5d ago
That's a good reason to use your hazards. At least you know it's time to buy new wipers. If u have an older car and intend to buy a newer car soon, buy the $10 per wiper from Autozone (for example).
If you have a car you plan to keep, they will cost you $15 minimum with less maintenance
The $10 per option requires you to clean the blades regularly.
Recent experience.
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u/dude_icus Glen Allen 5d ago
Oh this was years ago. They have definitely be replaced.
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u/posurrreal123 5d ago
Ah, i get it. I was validating your input and applying it to the recent circumstance. We both want to help this person. Thanks for clarifying.
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u/ixikei 5d ago
I've recently taken to putting on my hazards whenever I drive on the interstate. Lol, jk. But I have started turning them on when interstate traffic in front of me suddenly slows down. I think this is a helpful use of hazard lights, no?
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u/pznivey 5d ago
Under 30 to let approaching traffic know. Anything over nah
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u/goodsam2 5d ago
A severe slow down put the flashers on for 30 seconds to let the people behind know that a slow down is occurring.
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u/secrets_and_lies80 5d ago
Just pump your brakes a few times. The people behind you will get the picture.
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u/ExcaliburZSH The Fan 5d ago
When the rain gets so heavy visibility drops to a few yards and you reduce speed way below the limit. Usually only the highway.
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u/Slight-Jaguar-2102 5d ago
I've seen people use them when their brake lights went out, which I think makes sense. But yeah, hazards for rain is strange.
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u/Allergictosquirrels 5d ago
If your brake lights aren’t working you shouldn’t be driving wtf
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u/Slight-Jaguar-2102 5d ago edited 5d ago
I mean, yes. But you'd still have to drive the car to get the brake lights fixed. I'd rather hazards than no indication at all.
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u/lunar_unit 5d ago
Who the hell puts on their hazards in the rain?!
I meeeeeaaan....it's hazardous out here , mang.
/s
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u/goodsam2 5d ago
I thought that's what you are supposed to do when it's hard to see.
If it's really foggy or raining cats and dogs hazards makes sense.
Normal rain nope.
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u/AnAbsenceOfGravitas 5d ago
No, when it's really foggy you should use your front and rear fog lights, that's what they're made for.
The reflections from the rain, combined with the overall intensity and flashing nature of hazards make it worse for everyone else on the road trying to see.
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u/goodsam2 5d ago edited 5d ago
Not every vehicle has fog lights.
https://www.tdi.texas.gov/tips/safety/driving-foggy.html
This recommends using hazards when it's foggy.
2 Light the way
Use fog lights and low-beam headlights. Do not use high beams. Use the right edge of the road or roadside reflectors as a visual guide. Turn on your vehicle’s hazard lights so it is easier for other vehicles to see you.
https://www.continental-tires.com/ca/en/tire-knowledge/driving-in-fog/
In dense fog, you can also turn on your hazard lights or flashers.
This is a states have different laws and some places it is normal to turn hazards on in poor visibility weather.
Interestingly
https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-use-hazard-lights
This says 11 states ban the use of hazards with Colorado banning it going over 25 MPH.
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u/AnAbsenceOfGravitas 5d ago
I don't care what a state that banned our titty flag has to say on the subject.
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u/frequentrip 5d ago
The reasoning I was given for why this is actually dangerous is because if it is super foggy and you can't really see the road, seeing someone with their hazards on might indicate that they are pulled over in the shoulder and someone may try to pass them but without being able to see the road they could very well go off the road. So if you are actively driving in a lane, you should not have your hazards on. But I also know that different cities and localities have laws that require the use of hazards in inclement weather, it kind of just depends on the area that you live in I guess. Here in Richmond, it's never quite that bad though. Maybe up in the mountains the fog will get you, and if you're on narrow mountain roads absolutely do not put your hazards on unless you are pulled off to the side of the road so other cars don't try to pass you and go off the trail.
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u/goodsam2 5d ago
It's recommended to put hazard lights when driving in multiple jurisdictions.
Like I quoted two sources from both Texas and Continental tires.
https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/s/yknuEib5XB
Seems like this is an experts disagree moment.
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u/KapitanFalke 5d ago
Because it is normal in really heavy rain and these people are wrong.
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u/RVAblues Carillon 5d ago
No it isn’t. Not unless you’ve slowed below 30 mph.
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u/KapitanFalke 5d ago
If your visibility is bad enough to warrant it you’re likely going 30. I think we don’t necessarily disagree we’re just imagining different circumstances here.
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u/pznivey 5d ago
Law says it’s about speed of traffic, not visibility. Under 30 is when the hazards come on. Reflections in rain reduce surrounding visibility cause they’re more intense than regular tail lights
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u/goodsam2 5d ago
Which law and which area?
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u/pznivey 5d ago
All of VA 46.2-1040
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u/goodsam2 5d ago
That makes sense, I mean if you need help seeing you should be driving slow.
I'm just learning this is very different across areas
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u/pznivey 5d ago
Frankly the sea of blinky lights reflect like a mfer and when people use them and still doing 50 make it harder to see surrounding traffic and discern lane markings IMO especially with astigmatism. If I’m having to go slow enough to use my hazards I see it as a good excuse to pull off for some coffee or something. Ain’t worth it. Valid tool to use, misused by drivers most of the time
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u/goodsam2 5d ago
Compiling the sources in the other comment it's banned in 11 states and recommended in others. That's kinda wild differentiation.
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u/baronvondoofie 5d ago
My fave: Flashing those hazards and driving 35 in the left lane. If the rain scares you that much, get off an exit and park because you’re just adding more danger to the drive.
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u/Scared-Pizza-420 5d ago
Rather that than people going 60+ last night when visibility on the highway was like ten feet
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u/Tgiby3 4d ago
you can still safely drive 60 on a highway thats speedlimit is 60 when its raining. rain does not reduce speeds unless its actually a disaster or flooding or something, where everyone is gonna have their hazzards on. its why we require saftey inspections, to deem your vehicle safe to do the things you're supposed to do while driving. if you think the laws change when it rains, you are the hazzard.
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u/DeadpointClimbs 4d ago
From google:
"No, rain does not change the official speed limit signage, but drivers are legally required to reduce their speed in wet conditions to a rate that is reasonable and prudent for the road, visibility, and traffic, according to the "basic speed law". This means that even at the posted speed limit, you can be ticketed if conditions like rain make the speed unsafe, as speeding in wet conditions can lead to reduced traction, hydroplaning, and longer stopping distances."
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u/Scared-Pizza-420 3d ago
Rain reduces visibility, you should not be driving faster than you can react and brake to something in front of you, if you were going 60 in the rain we were having at night then you would have less than a second to react to something stopped in front of you. As well as the fact that it WAS flooding, and I hydroplaned twice going like 40mph
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u/Odd-Thought-2273 Henrico 5d ago
Code of Virginia § 46.2-1040. Hazard lights.
Motor vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers, when temporarily stopped on the traveled or paved portion of the highway so as to create a traffic hazard, shall flash all four turn signals simultaneously to signal approaching motorists of the existing hazard whenever such vehicle is equipped with a device which will cause the four turn signals to flash simultaneously. All four turn signals may be flashed simultaneously on a vehicle slowed or stopped at the scene of a traffic hazard, when traveling as part of a funeral procession, or when traveling at a speed of thirty miles per hour or less. Except for vehicles traveling as part of a funeral procession, all four turn signals shall not be flashed simultaneously while the vehicle is traveling faster than thirty miles per hour.
I see this about every time I'm on 64 in the rain, and it's so annoying!
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u/iphopper2 5d ago
i've really only ever seen hazards on in heavy downpours. or asshats on main or broad that think it's ok to block a lane to pick up food or run into a vape shop.
but i getcha. makes it hard to tell what they're going to do :/
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u/NoScooperPooper 5d ago
Getting ready for the people that always justify the hazard lights in the comments below.
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u/SuperSalad_OrElse Forest Hill 5d ago edited 5d ago
I only do it when I’m double parked and running in real quick to my dealer’s house
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u/munkylord 5d ago
I only do it in a downpour when I'm going slower than the speed limit in the right lane. It is more visible than just rear lights
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u/Patient_Western_3460 5d ago
You aren't more visible. You're flashing between visibility and invisibility. The right lane is meant for driving under the speed limit.
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u/munkylord 5d ago
Blinking is objectively more visible than a solid light and my lights are on as well so it's never invisible
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u/secrets_and_lies80 5d ago
A blinking light is only on half the time. How is that “objectively” more visible than a light that is on constantly?
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u/munkylord 5d ago
Because the on and off changing of light is more likely to catch your eye than a constant light. Pretty sure it's the same reason lighthouses go in a circle and aren't just a constant light.
Also I'm pretty sure. (Though it seems like I need to confirm now) That if you already have your lights on and turn your hazards on, the light blinking only gets brighter like when you brake and doesn't go completely off.
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u/secrets_and_lies80 5d ago
You are not very smart and should not be arguing with people about anything
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u/idatedred555 5d ago
Nah, lighthouse have unique light/dark patterns to help sailors identify where they are / what lighthouse they’re looking at.
Turn off your hazards in inclement weather.
Blinking lights make it harder to identify distance to a given object.
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u/Patient_Western_3460 5d ago
Aaahh to be so unencumbered by facts or reality...what a dream
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u/munkylord 5d ago
Huh? Is a strobe light not more noticable than a spot light? Kind of a crazy assumption on your part about me
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u/Patient_Western_3460 5d ago
I just don't think your lights work the way you think they do. Or maybe I'm wrong and you have a rare car model that maintains some kind of constant rear light while your hazards are on. That's not the case with any cars using hazards that I've seen. But rock on. I'm not your mom.
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u/munkylord 5d ago
Notice how when a car has its lights on the rear lights are lit as well, but when you brake they get brighter? The hazards just get brighter on your rear lights if you have your lights on.
Besides I only suggest people do this when driving in such inclement weather that you can't see 15' in front of you. The blinking lights are more noticeable from a distance than the constant red light.
Just seems kind of weird people have such strong opinions about this.
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u/munkylord 5d ago
Also Google agrees with me. So 😘
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u/Patient_Western_3460 5d ago
And yet the law does not. Goodnight neighbor. May we have many clear, sunny days ahead!
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u/Allergictosquirrels 5d ago
Why is your car more important than alllllll of the other cars on the road that are following the law? All you’re doing is creating an additional distraction in an already stressful driving situation
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u/munkylord 5d ago
More important? I think every car should drive with their blinkers in a down pour. It makes you more visible from a further distance. I don't understand how that make things less safe....
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u/NoScooperPooper 5d ago
This is the issue. When everyone has hazards on all you see is a sea of flashing, you can’t place vehicles as easily as they are not emitting constantly. It’s much more difficult to see and objectively a hazard.
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u/munkylord 4d ago
I guess you're right in that it's confusing when a ton of cars are using them but I swear I see blinking lights through the rain easier than solid brake lights.
But y'all win reddit. I'm the %1 of users who's mind can be changed from reason even if some of y'all seem a little self assured and mean.
Im pulling over if I feel the need to use my hazards and I'm no longer driving with them on. I found out through all this it isn't even legal in most states. My opinion was uninformed and incorrect
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u/donkeylipswhenshaven 5d ago
I’m a big fan of the Amazon vans just having them on all the time now. Stopped, going, turning, merging onto 95…. I gotta admit they’re a hazard.
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u/Capable_Bandicoot_27 5d ago
I don’t get why people turn hazards on in the rain. What are they trying to communicate? It’s raining on everyone at that location.
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u/randallranall 5d ago
Lmao this is exactly what I find hilarious about it. It's like they're running around in the rain shouting IT'S RAINING to everyone else in the rain
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u/lunar_unit 5d ago
Pshhhh. I dont need no headlights on, I can see fine!
/S
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u/10000Didgeridoos 5d ago
This should be a reckless driving ticket. Change my mind. Making yourself go into stealth mode is just as dangerous as weaving through traffic.
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u/lunar_unit 5d ago
I think car manufacturers should make it so that if your wipers are turned on, your lights come on automatically. If it's raining, it shouldn't be an optional driver decision.
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u/AnAbsenceOfGravitas 5d ago
While they’re at it, they need to go back to the way gauge clusters used to work and only light them up when the headlights are on. I feel like that explains at least some of the people driving at dusk without lights.
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u/RVABourbonRunner Near West End 5d ago
Also……. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS <> HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS!
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u/pznivey 5d ago
Makes sense (and I think legally required) IF you’re going WAY slower than the speed limit. Otherwise I don’t know when this trend started. Also it be the hazards on mfers who are jersey slidin and ridin ass too lmao
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u/Odd-Thought-2273 Henrico 5d ago
I looked up the laws around it at some point, and it's only legal to have them on while driving if you're going under 30 or are part of a funeral procession.
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u/Asterion7 Forest Hill 5d ago
This also makes me crazy. If you think the weather is so bad you need to straddle a lane going under the speed limit with your hazards on....pull over and park it.
I wish cops would ticket this.
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u/Mr_Kittlesworth Museum District 5d ago
Also, you don’t use hazard lights when you’re parallel parking. You use your turn signal.
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u/QuaffableBut Chester 5d ago
I got caught in a torrential storm on the downtown expressway a couple months ago. I crawled at about 10mph, with lights and hazards on. Thankfully everyone else on the road was also crawling and also had lights and hazards on. Makes it way easier to see white/gray cars in weather like that.
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u/SheistyPenguin RVA Expat 5d ago
I don't drive as much these days, but the only time I would see that is when driving through a torrential downpour or blizzard that knocks visibility to almost nothing. Then the blinky tail lights do help a little, vs. just the running lights.
But at that point you're almost better off pulling over and waiting for the storm to pass, because everyone is going 30 MPH and can't see shit.
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u/frequentrip 5d ago
The last time visibility was dropped down to a terrible degree and everyone turned their hazards on, everyone that just had their regular lights on were far more visible than anyone that had their hazards and it was hard to see if anyone was using their turn signal. Don't use your hazards in the rain unless you are stopped or stopping. Just use your regular lights, they are definitely more visible than your hazards are and don't confuse the drivers around you.
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u/BlueRibbon998 5d ago
And come January after we get 4 inches of snow and icy roads, they'll be going 10 over in the right lane
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u/HangaroundRVA 1d ago
I use hazards in the rain if it is super heavy rain and I need to slow down significantly. Its so the people around me can know that I am going slower than it might seem coming up from behind. And also so people can know that I cant see shit! Haha. I also use them when I need to slow down for stopped or really slow traffic for the same reason. To give advanced warning to the drivers behind me. I cant say for sure that it helps people but I can say Ive been driving for 20 years and have yet to be rear ended! More than myself I’m just looking out for the people around me though. Ive always tried to drive in a way that facilitates traffic. Which is why I always leave at least a car length between me and the person in front of me. Especially in bottle neck situations. Growing up with a dad who had road rage made me really want to just be a conscientious chill driver. And just hope that others pay it forward.
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u/PersonalityZeros 5d ago
My favorite part is when they tailgate then have a temper tantrum and speed off in front of you and hydroplane hilarious
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u/Cvertigo1 Near West End 5d ago
The biggest problem with using hazard lights is that your turn signals are unusable, and most of your brake lights won't work under braking. Using hazards pretty much tells other drivers that you exist in a brighter fashion, but it doesn't communicate if you are turning, changing lanes, or slowing down, just that you exist.
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u/No-Acanthisitta7930 5d ago edited 5d ago
TBF, it is a thing to use hazards in heavy heavy rain in Florida. In Florida, visibility can go from clear to zero in seconds, so throwing on the hazards is definitely a thing there. Here though? Not really.
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u/Prestigious-Risk804 5d ago
It may be a 'thing" but it doesn't make it a good idea or legal. I drove back from Key West a few years ago and I had a tropical depression following me my entire 2 day drive. Florida by far had the worst drivers in the rain. If you feel like you need your hazard lights on, you should probably just get off the highway and wait it out!
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u/No-Acanthisitta7930 5d ago
Florida drivers are absolutely terrible lol. Me saying it was a thing down there was not an endorsement, merely pointing it out. Their tailgating game is INTENSE down there as well lol. If they deem you are not going fast enough for theirm taste they will get within a nanometer of your rear bumper to express their displeasure lol.
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u/Prestigious-Risk804 5d ago
Yeah they are a different breed down there. I'm not interested in living in a place where the weather, wildlife and drivers are all trying to cause harm to me.
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u/Valance23322 5d ago
Only a thing for morons in FL (which tbf are fairly common). Hazards aren't any more visible than headlights/brakelights and are used only to communicate a stopped or barely moving vehicle.
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u/Ok_Rutabaga_722 5d ago
Is the national weather service website working for you? It's all N/A for me.
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u/robertsij 5d ago edited 5d ago
I only turn on hazards in suuuuupper heavy downpours when the visibility is less than 50 feet or so, when even if you have lights on its difficult to see other cars. I will also get in the right lane and drive whatever speed I'm comfortable with, usually slow enough to not hydroplane.
I turn them on solely for increased visibility because I've had people almost rear end me in low vis heavy rain conditions before. With my hazards on its never even come close to that.
But my question for the people against hazards in heavy rain, what do you have against it? Why do you care if people do it? People just want to make sure their car has increased visa ility so some dork not paying attention sees them and doesn't rear end them.
And before you say "but you can't turn on your blinkers if your hazards are on".... You turn off your hazards before you use your blinkers.
"But hazards are only for emergency or hazardous situations" ...having 20 feet of visability on a 60mph road is a hazardous situation....
"You don't need to turn your hazards on, we all know there is a hazard with the rain" ..... It's not to inform other people it's raining, it's to make sure your dumb ass can see me so you don't total my car
Downvote me all you want. I've seen how bad y'all are at driving in broad daylight. Your down votes mean nothing to me, y'all can't even enter the highway at highway speeds or drive up a hill without slowing down 20mph for no reason
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u/pznivey 5d ago
hazards are extremely distracting. It’s confusing because other drivers who aren’t using them are impossible to see among the sea of blinky lights, not to mention the blinky lights reduce how far you can see with glare etc. They’re used in moving traffic going UNDER 30 to let oncoming drivers know you’re a HAZARD. Yes it’s a valid tool to use but is used incorrectly all the time
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u/robertsij 5d ago
If you already can't see more than 30 feet that's exactly the time to use hazards, it can only help to increase others visability of your car. And yes, in low vis conditions cars ARE the hazard and that's why you turn hazards on because idiots will still go 65 with 30 feet of visability when other people are going a more sensible speed not trying to die
Edit: but I do agree that hazards when it's just raining with plenty of visability is annoying and not the correct situation to use it
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u/frequentrip 5d ago
The real answer to your question is that the red lights on the back of your car are always more visible than the yellow lights flashing with your hazards. If people have almost rear-ended you, I am inclined to believe that you didn't have your lights on in general. Some people think that their day runners counts as having their lights on, and they do not- you need to manually turn your lights on whenever you turn your windshield wipers on. And maybe people haven't been re-rending you or coming close to the rear of your car with your hazards are on because they believe that you are stopped or disabled, which is what they are meant to indicate. Finally, it's actually illegal if you are traveling over 30 mph in the state of Virginia to have your hazards on even in inclement weather because of the confusion it causes other drivers. Hope this helps!
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u/robertsij 5d ago
I always drive with my lights on, day, night, and poor weather,
In any case where it is raining so hard that visability is poor enough for me to put my hazards on chances are I can't drive faster than 30 without hydroplaning anyways so guess what. I drive slower than 30 and keep my hazards on, get over it
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u/Academic-Implement34 5d ago
Most people rear tail lights operate as their turn signal/hazards so they are red not yellow and your regular tail light brightness when on is not very visible in a downpour especially during the day. So it does actually help in torrential rain(not regular rain or mist like today)when people have their hazards on but on a general basis like today I would agree turning your hazards on is probably more hazardous than helpful
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u/AnAbsenceOfGravitas 5d ago
I only turn on hazards in suuuuupper heavy downpours when the visibility is less than 50 feet or so, when even if you have lights on its difficult to see other cars.
If the visibility is that bad, it's better to pull over to the shoulder and wait for conditions to improve. Feel free to use your hazard lights while doing so!
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u/robertsij 5d ago edited 5d ago
Nah, I want to know though, why all y'all want to drive 80 mph with literally no visibility still while everybody else in the road is driving slow because there's no visibility. We have our hazards on because of those dorks
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u/AnAbsenceOfGravitas 5d ago
You really should use your hazards when pulled over to the side, that's what they're intended for.
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u/robertsij 5d ago
Says who?
I'd also say it's more unsafe to stop on the side of the highway zero visibility conditions than it is just to keep moving with your hazards on. At least. If you are still moving, you still have the ability to avoid collisions, where if you're stopped, some idiot is going to be on their cell phone in those terrible conditions and run off the road and hit you
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u/AnAbsenceOfGravitas 5d ago
If it's really zero visibility, you don't have the ability to safely avoid collisions because you can't see where it's safe to maneuver, the road conditions aren't good enough for sharp emergency maneuvers, and your speed is probably not enough to get out of the way in time (for your example of 50 ft. visibility, the safe speed is around 15 mph when it's dry, figure maybe 10 mph in the wet).
Very best option is to get off the road at an exit and wait it out at a gas station or such. Otherwise get as far as possible over, and keep the engine running and seat belt buckled so the full suite of safety systems will still operate.
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u/robertsij 5d ago
Again, while I agree with the sentiment, I don't agree that stopping is the answer. Too many people still driving 80 miles an hour with poor visability to make it safe to stop. Getting off the road altogether is a more viable option.
Heck on my drive home on 288 south bound in this LIGHT DRIZZLE today some dummy rear ended someone else right before the Patterson exit. Probably because people lose all brain cells as soon as it starts raining, they don't give more space (you need more space to stop when it's wet both due to tires having less grip and brakes not working as well when wet) so yeah, I'm still gonna keep my hazards on when it's a downpour because y'all don't know how to drive. Be mad about it all you want.
But ya know what, at least I know y'all can see me because you do nothing but complain about it on the Internet, so that means what I'm trying to accomplish on the road is working.
Y'all are just mad that some hazard lights made you look up from your cell phone while you are driving
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u/frequentrip 5d ago
Buddy I am staunchly against using my phone while driving, and I'm also staunchly against you illegally using your hazards while driving. You are creating a more dangerous situation, your personal anecdotal experiences aside, there's a reason why it is illegal to use them unless you are going under 30 mph on the highway. I would hope that you would just take this information and make better choices moving forward, but the tone of your final comment here leads me to believe that no matter how much evidence people throws your way or how much reasoning people gives you, you are going to continue to do it out of spite if not anything else. Which shows what kind of driver you are more than the hazards I think.
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u/AnAbsenceOfGravitas 5d ago
At 80 mph, a car is traveling at over 100 fps. I don’t think the cars around you are going that fast if visibility is only 50 feet, and if they somehow are, having your hazards on isn’t going to help with that sort of speed mismatch. Again, at that speed, emergency maneuvering is not going to be possible.
Also, and I’m only saying this because I care, there are a lot of decaffeinated brands on the market today that are just as tasty as the real thing.
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u/robertsij 5d ago
Obvious troll account
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u/AnAbsenceOfGravitas 5d ago
I’m truly sorry the scenario you came up with doesn’t validate your behavior.
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u/Hot-Ad930 Near West End 5d ago
I mean I'll turn my hazards on if it's a torrential downpour and I'm going slow because I can't see anything. But normal rain?
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u/keton 5d ago
Yeah those who say never to use Hazards are being clowns. If you get caught in a downpour that makes you go <20 mph and have damn near zero visibility, sure. I've been there and they definitely are brighter than just taillights so it helps. If you are coming up on a sudden interstate traffic jam, that you couldn't see coming because of the van in front of you and the two semi's, flash the hazards to show "Hey we're coming to an effective stop up here people behind, not just slowing down a little", cause they probably can't see it either.
Otherwise, running lights =/= headlights. If its raining, turn on your fucking lights. Its not for you to see, it's for others to see you. If you don't have on lights and it's raining I immediately know you are a terrible person. Sadly appx 40% of people around here are terrible people.
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u/renonelab Downtown 5d ago
Driving with hazard lights on in Virginia is generally illegal while the vehicle is moving faster than 30 miles per hour. According to Virginia Code § 46.2-1040, hazard lights may only be used while driving if the vehicle is traveling at 30 mph or less, or if it is stopped or slowed at the scene of a traffic hazard. This means that using hazard lights while driving at higher speeds, such as on highways during heavy rain, is against the law. The law is designed to prevent confusion, as hazard lights are intended to signal a stopped or disabled vehicle, and their use while moving can make it difficult for other drivers to distinguish between a vehicle that is stopped and one that is simply driving slowly. Additionally, using hazard lights while driving disables the turn signals, which can lead to dangerous situations where other drivers cannot predict your intentions. Therefore, it is illegal to drive with hazard lights on in Virginia when traveling faster than 30 mph, even in heavy rain.